THE O'CONOR DONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, When the Returns relating to the Queen's Colleges in Ireland, ordered on the 26th July 1872, will be presented to the House; and also whether it is his intention to introduce during the present Session a Bill to amend the Grand Jury Laws of Ireland?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON,in reply, said, the Returns relating to the Queen's Colleges were of a somewhat complicated character, and that it had been found necessary to send them back for correction in consequence of a considerable number of inaccuracies. He was, however, informed that they were now ready, and they would, probably, be laid on the Table in the course of the week. A Bill to amend the Grand Jury Laws (Ireland) had been brought in last Session, and it was ready now to be reintroduced with some not very important modifications. He had, however, some doubt with respect to the expediency of proceeding with such a measure immediately, as the reform of the Grand Jury Laws was only part of the very large subject of local administration and taxation, which was likely to receive a considerable amount of attention during the next few months. He would be able to state in a few days whether the Government proposes to go on with the Bill, in whole or in part, during the present Session.