HC Deb 12 May 1881 vol 261 cc267-8
MR. HEALY

In the absence of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, I wish to ask the Attorney General for Ireland, If he will state whether the Government approve the refusal of arms licences in Ireland on the ground that the applicants are Land Leaguers?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)

According to the provisions of the Arms Act, the issue of licences for arms is left within the jurisdiction of the magistrates, who issue or refuse them in the exercise of their discretion in the several cases which come before them, acting on their own responsibility without interference on the part of the Government. I must, therefore, decline to lay down any gene- ral rule for their guidance. Each case must stand on its own individual merits.

MR. HEALY

asked whether any instructions had been given by the Government on the subject?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)

None, so far as I know.