§ SIR ARTHUR GUINNESSasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission on "The Science and Art Department in Ireland," which was issued in 1868 and reported in 1869, among other things—
That, in order to afford advantages and facilities to students, artisans, and others in Dublin, 1407 in some respects similar to those which are yielded by the South Kensington Museum in London, and, in other respects, to those afforded by the Science and Art Museum in Edinburgh, it is very desirable that there should be a general Industrial and Fine Arts Museum in Dublin, that the people of Ireland might there obtain the fullest opportunity of improvement in the cultivation of the industrial and decorative arts by the study of approved models and objects.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, the Question related to a matter of very great importance to Dublin and to Ireland generally, and one which, if carried out, would entail a very considerable expenditure. The recommendation was made by a Commission which reported in 1869, and the fact of its having been for four years under the consideration of the late Government without any action having been taken upon it showed that the question involved was one of considerable difficulty. All he could say at present was, that his best attention should be given to the subject, and he hoped that, after sufficient time had elapsed for the purpose, he should be able to make some proposal to the House.