§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, amongst the "bad characters" whom the police have been directed to arrest in Dublin under the Curfew Clause, females who ply their calling in the streets for immoral purposes, and persons suspected of robbery and theft will be included?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe classes of persons who are within the scope of the section referred to are those who are abroad under circumstances giving rise to a reasonable suspicion of criminal intention, and that is a question of fact in each case. Persons suspected of robbery and theft would be included legally; but, generally speaking, it may be said that the action of the police will be governed by the supplementary Proclamation which I read yesterday. The new powers will not take the place of the ordinary powers of the law, but will be supplementary to them, for the purpose of dealing with persons connected with secret societies who endanger the lives of peaceful citizens.
§ MR. HEALYasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, whether prostitution was not a criminal offence? He wished to ask whether the offence in question was not an offence for which persons could be imprisoned; and, whe- 484 ther the police in many parts of the country were not directed to proceed against such persons?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)It is not per se.