§ MR. P. MARTINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Have any meetings of the Senate appointed under the provisions of the University (Ireland) Act, 1879, been as yet held, and have the Senate prepared any scheme for the better advancement of University Edu- 329 cation in Ireland; if not, can he state why such meetings have not been held and the scheme prepared; and, when does he anticipate such scheme will be prepared and forwarded to the Lord Lieutenant?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERNo meeting of the Senate of the Irish University has yet been held; in fact, there could not be anything done until the return to Ireland of the Chancellor of the University—the Duke of Abercorn—who is expected to be back before long. The Charter provides that the Chancellor should be present before any official act is done; but that in his absence the Vice Chancellor may exercise all his functions. The Charter also provides that the Vice Chancellor should be elected by the Senate at their first meeting. That first meeting has not yet taken place, in the absence of the Chancellor; and, consequently, no Vice Chancellor is appointed, or could take his place.