MR. SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether any Order has been issued regarding the enforcement of sections 11, 26, and 49 of the Licensing Act, 1872, having reference to publicans' sign-boards; if he is aware that the provisions of said sections are generally unenforced throughout Ireland; and, if the Government intend to take any steps to have the Law carried out?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHThe sections referred to, Sir, provide that sign-boards, showing the name of the licence-holder and the particulars of the licence, should be affixed to the premises of publicans and retail beer-dealers. They have not been generally enforced throughout Ireland. My attention was called last winter to the subject; and in January last instructions were issued to the Dublin metropolitan police to enforce these sections throughout the Dublin police district, in which a large proportion of the retail beer-dealers of Ireland are comprised. In the rest of Ireland it is the duty of the magistrates in quarter sessions to issue directions on the subject with regard to publicans. Application was made to them at the last quarter sessions to do so, and such directions were given. We are now inquiring how far these directions have been carried out. As to beer-dealers, the directions must be given by the magistrates in petty sessions, and inquiry will be made on that point also.