HC Deb 06 May 1881 vol 260 cc1961-2
MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that the magistrates at Ballineen, county Cork, have refused arms licences to all Catholic farmers and others even when the applications were supported by the local police constable; whether licences were granted to all Protestants; whether the local rector sat on the bench to back up the applications of his own people; whether all the magistrates on the bench are Protestants; and, whether a periodical Return can be laid upon the Table of the House showing the number of cases in which arms licences have been granted in the proclaimed districts, the number in which they have been refused, the reason of the refusal, and the religion of the applicant in each case?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

, in reply, said, he was informed that all licences to Catholic farmers in the locality named had not been refused, but some of them had been postponed; nor was it true that all Protestant applications were granted. It was true that the Rector had a seat upon the Bench and bore witness in a few cases to the character of his parishioners. It was not true that all the magistrates were Protestants, because the Resident Magistrate, who had most influence in such matters, was a Catholic. He could not grant the Return asked for by the hon. Member.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman was to be understood as saying that all those who received licences were not Protestants?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

said, he thought he had already answered that Question when he said it was not true that all the Catholic farmers were refused licences.

MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will lay upon the Table of the House, a Return showing the value claimed, and the amount paid upon, arms surrendered in the proclaimed districts of Ireland up to the 30th April; and, whether there is any objection to furnish a similar Return periodically during the continuance of the Arms Act in Ireland?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, I think the information as to the value of arms surrendered in Ireland ought to be laid on the Table of the House, and I hope to be able to lay it on the Table when the Estimates are brought forward. I do not think that a periodical Return is necessary, or any Return, until the Act has been in operation for some time.