§ MR. PLUNKETasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a deputation on behalf of the Minor Incumbents and Curates of the Irish Church having waited 546 upon him on Wednesday last, in support of "The Irish Church Act (1869) Amendment Bill," he will state to the House the course which the Government are prepared to take with respect to that measure?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERIf the right hon. and learned Gentleman is able to bring his Bill to the second reading, the Government, I need not say, will pay all attention to the arguments in favour of the individuals on whose behalf he moves. With regard, however, to the course which the Government, as at present advised, will adopt, I must say that we are not able to accept the Bill. I am very sorry for the individual suffering of several of the gentlemen referred to—namely, those who were minor incumbents at the time of the passing of the Act. That Act, in the opinion of the Parliament of the day, and of the present Government, provided compensation in all cases in which it was due. The gentlemen in question ask to be compensated for the loss of their hope, or expectation, or chances of promotion; and, notwithstanding individual suffering, the Government cannot assent to the principle on which their claims are based. Their case was brought before both Houses of Parliament at the time of the passing of the Act and was carefully considered. Now that six years have elapsed since the question was mooted, it is clear that the late Government could not have dealt with the matter, or else, no doubt, they would have done so.