§ LORD ARTHUR HILLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the arrangement of 1868, which provides that "where the Constabulary officer is of one religious persusion the Head Constable shall be of another," Whether, as he has stated that he dislikes the arrangement and the Government is not bound 1744 by it, he will take steps to have it cancelled?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)It is a mistake to suppose that there is any general rule or arrangement providing that where the Constabulary officer is of one religious persuasion the Head Constable shall be another. The word "arrangement" was used by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary in the case of the police force at Banbridge, about which the noble Lord asked a Question a short time ago; but it merely meant the state of things which actually existed at a certain time.