§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What are the steps necessary to place the Royal University of Ireland (in the words of the eleventh section of "The University Education (Ireland) Act, 1879,") "in a position to confer degrees;" when it is proposed to take those steps; if, having regard to the interest felt in Ireland in the working of "The University Education (Ireland) Act, 1879," Her Majesty's Government will proceed to arrange for the dissolution of the Queen's University within the time primarily fixed for its dissolution by the eleventh section of the Act, namely, before the 27th April 1882, when two years will have elapsed from the date of the charter of the Royal University; and, if, for the guidance of the large number of young men who desire to matriculate in the Royal University as soon as possible, he will inform the House whether the Royal University will hold a matriculation examination before the close of 1881?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that by the 10th section of the Universities Act rules were made by the Senate which must have the approval of Her Majesty. The Senate would not be able to place the Royal Universty "in a position to confer degrees" without funds; but Lord Carlingford was just about to introduce a Bill into the House of Lords to facilitate the carrying out of this object. By the 11th section of the Act referred to the Queen's University could not be dissolved until the new University was in a position to confer degrees. The holding of a matriculation examination depended upon the passing of the Bill he referred to; but he hoped one would be held before the close of the year.