Mr. O'CONNOR POWERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether, under section 56 of the Prisons (Ireland) Act, passed last Session, the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council have "settled and approved" the rules and regulations for the management of Prisons in Ireland, and when, in accord- 1050 ance with the same section of the Act, they will be laid before Parliament; and, whether the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council have made, or intend to make any special rules for the better treatment of persons imprisoned for political offences?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, the Rules and Regulations under the Prisons Act to which the hon. Member refers have not yet been finally approved by the Lord Lieutenant and the Privy Council for Ireland. It has been considered proper that they should be framed as far as possible in accordance with the Rules for England, and therefore some further delay must take place; but the Irish Government will endeavour to lay them on the Table as soon as possible after they have been approved. The provisions of the Act in respect to persons imprisoned for sedition or seditious libel will be, of course, considered; but, with that exception, I do not think the Act contemplates any particular action with reference to persons imprisoned for political offences.