§ MR. A. M. SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in view of the correspondence which has recently passed between the Very Rev. John O'Brien, of Banbridge, and the Local Government Board in reference to some orphan children, recently inmates of the Banbridge Workhouse, the Government will take steps to enable Boards of Guardians in such cases to exercise some more efficient guardianship over orphans, the custody of whom may be obtained from the Guardians by persons of a different religious persuasion?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that the children in question were given up to a relative—the aunt, he believed—by the Board of Guardians. The Board of Guardians had already ample power to exercise sufficient guardianship over orphans. The 8th section of the 25 & 26 Vict. only required Guardians to give up orphans to relatives if the Guardians were of opinion the relatives were fit persons to be entrusted with the children.