§ THE O'CONOR DON (for Mr. O'REILLY)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reference to an answer of his on Monday, Whether the Reports of the Commissioners appointed last year to inquire into the case of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, the Irish Constabu- 346 lary, and certain other branches of the Civil Service in Ireland, the last of which was signed by the Commissioners on the 14th December, were received at the Treasury on the following dates:—The Report and Evidence on the Dublin Metropolitan Police on the 19th December, that on the Constabulary and Resident Magistrates on the 24th January, and the other Reports in the first week of February; and, whether he can explain the delay in their regard?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,in reply, said, the Reports alluded to were received at the Treasury at the dates given in the Question, except the last, which was received in the second, not the first, week of February. Three of the Reports had been referred to the Irish Government, and the last would be so referred. The Irish Government had not yet arrived at a decision with respect to them, and undoubtedly a considerable time must be allowed for consideration, seeing that the matters involved were of so much importance. In the meantime a certain provisional improvement had been made in the pay of the Irish Constabulary and the Dublin Metropolitan Police.