§ MAJOR O'BEIRNEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If promotion in the lower grades of the Royal Irish Constabulary is regulated by selection exclusively without any regard to seniority, and if it is a fact that such promotion is entirely in the gift of sub-inspectors and county inspectors, without the right of appeal, in such cases, where a sub-constable considers he has been unjustly passed over for promotion, and is it left to the discretion of the county inspectors and sub-inspectors of each county to fix their own standard of age for promotion, and up to what age are sub-constables deemed eligible for promotion to the higher grades; and, whether he will place upon the Table of the House a Return of the sub-constables, promoted to the rank of acting constables and head constables respectively, within the last twelve months, stating their period of service, conduct, and the different religious denominations to which they respectively belong, and the number of sub-constables unpromoted from 12 to 20 years' service, specifying the different 1435 religious denominations to which they belong, and likewise the religious denomination of each sub-inspector and county inspector under whom they have served?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, it was not the fact that promotion was exercised in the manner referred to in the Question. The Return which the hon. Member asked for would be laid on the Table of the House.
§ Subsequently—
§ MR. W. J. CORBETasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can state the number of first-class head constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary who have been promoted to the rank of sub-inspector since the 16th of January last; and, whether the vacancies created have been filled by the promotion of the senior second-class head constables to be first-class from the same date; and, if not, if he would state why?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, no promotion from the rank of head constable to that of Sub-Inspector had been made since the 16th of January last. Six promotions were made on that day. The vacancies caused thereby could not be filled up at once; but several pro motions had been made since the 1st instant.