HC Deb 19 May 1881 vol 261 cc815-7
MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will not, after the Second Reading of the Irish Land Law Bill, endeavour to afford some facilities for the discussion of the Notice which stands on the books of the House with reference to the arrest. of Mr. Dillon, M.P. and the general conduct of the Irish Executive?

MR. GLADSTONE

Sir, in answering this Question I cannot but express my great regret, inasmuch as everyone must desire that a matter of this kind should be disposed of with as little delay as possible, that the hon. Member has not availed himself of any of the opportunities for bringing forward his Motion which wore open to him as an independent Member. In all likelihood, if the hon. Member had thought fit to put down this Motion for Tuesday night last, and if some of the hon. Members interested in the Question had attended on that evening, the Notice would have received the attention of the House. Instead, however, of following such a course as I have indicated, the hon. Member now asks me to give him facilities for the discussion of his Motion. But he knows perfectly well what are the facilities at my disposal, and I cannot do better than repeat what I have stated many times in this House, and what cannot be unknown to the hon. Member—namely, that with regard to the whole of the time as to which we consider we have a moral option, our intention is to give it to the Irish Land Bill. But between the second reading of the Bill and the Committee it may be proper to allow an interval of a week to elapse. That being so, there will be one evening at the command of the Government, and it is a matter of necessity that that evening should be given to the consideration of a financial measure without the authority of which the taxes of the country cannot be levied. This measure is absolutely necessary for authorizing the levying of the taxes, and with regard to it some inconvenience has already arisen. I must therefore treat this measure as a question of paramount importance. It may also be necessary to renew our demand for a Vote of Credit. That is a matter which I hope will not give rise to any discussion; but, in the present day, it is extremely difficult to anticipate what will and what wilt not give rise to discussion. But I certainly shall not interpose anything, in regard to which I consider we have option, so as to prevent the hon. Member from bringing forward his Motion if he is determined not to avail himself of the opportunities which he has as a private Member. On Tuesday next, for instance, he might probably bring the matter forward, there being very little indeed to be discussed on that day, except certain Irish Motions, with regard to which there would probably be a disposition on the part of Irish Members to accommodate the hon. Member. It appears to me that the hon. Member ought then to have an opportunity of bringing forward his Motion; but in the meantime he might reserve the discretionary power of making use of any portion of Monday that may be free after the Financial Bill is disposed of.

MR. MITCHELL HENRY

observed, that he had a Motion down for Tuesday relating to the industrial development of Ireland, and added that he certainly should not give way in the manner suggested by the right hon. Gentleman.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

suggested that the right hon. Gentleman might propose a Morning Sitting on Tuesday for the discussion of his hon. Friend's Motion.

Mr. MAC IVER

hoped the right hon. Gentleman would not be too sanguine about the rapid progress of the Customs. and Inland Revenue Bill.