§ MR. SEXTONasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he is aware that at a public meeting of the leading citizens of Dublin, held within the past few days, the scheme adopted by the Government for the erection of the National Science and Art Museum in Dublin was condemned and protested against by men of all political parties, and whether not a single voice was raised in its favour at the meeting; whether it is a 470 fact that a meeting of Irish architects has unanimously condemned the site selected by the Government, and that thirty-six of the principal architects in Ireland, including both non-competitors and competitors, have united in a public declaration that, in position, area, and adaptability for the purpose, the intended site is most inconvenient and unsuitable; that a building erected thereon will be cramped, inconvenient, badly lighted, and deficient in ventilation; that, irrespective of the site in Merrion Square, there is ample room to erect a building in every respect suitable and convenient; that all the competing architects with whom the signatories to the declaration had the opportunity of consulting found the greatest difficulty in providing the required accommodation on the site, but they were restricted by the rigid instructions, and allowed no scope for their suggestions; and several architects, on receiving the instructions furnished to intending competitors, were so convinced of the force of the foregoing objections, that they did not compete; and, whether the Government, in deference to the unanimous opinion of the Irish public, will now agree to re-open the entire question, and will accept the guidance of Irish opinion in regard to the erection of this Irish Institution?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, I saw that a meeting had been called for the purpose of condemning the Government scheme, and it had done so. Various well-known persons connected with Dublin appear to have been present. I have heard nothing of the meeting of architects; but, after my previous replies, the hon. Member will not be surprised if I think the opinion of Dublin architects on this question must be received with much reserve. No practical suggestion has yet reached me for building on any other site. But the Government will very shortly be in a position to come to a final decision in the matter, when it will have all these representations before it.