§ MR. CALLANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Is it a fact that on the Royal Commission to inquire into the Endowed Schools Act in Ireland there has been no Catholic having a residence in Ireland named as Commissioner; if he would state what are the names of the Commissioners who have been appointed, and how many of them are of the religion of the minority in Ireland; is it a fact that the Secretary appointed to the Commission has been, and still is, one of the Conservative agents for registration purposes in the city of Dublin; and, whether it is usual to appoint a person holding the latter appointment Secretary of a Royal Commission?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, the names of the Commissioners are Lord Rosse, Lord Randolph Churchill, M. P., Lord Justice Fitzgibbon, Mr. Richard O'Shaughnessy, M.P., Mr. William Wilson, M.P., Mr. Andrew Searle Hart, LL.D., Vice-Provost of Trinity College, Mr. Arthur Hill Curtis, LL.D., Professor at Queen's College, Galway. I believe that one of these gentlemen is a member of the Roman Catholic body, the rest being members of the Irish Church or of other Protestant communions. As to the secretary, Mr. Meredith, he is a gentleman who resides in Dublin, and I understand that although he has taken an interest in registration proceedings he has not been professionally engaged in them.
§ MR. CALLANMay I ask, Is it a fact that Mr. Meredith has for the last three years acted continuously and without remuneration in connection with the registration under the Municipal and Parliamentary franchise in Ireland?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, probably he has attended in the manner the hon. Gentleman states; but I understand that his action in the matter has been from love of the cause, and that he has not been engaged in any professional capacity.