§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Law Officers have yet decided, with regard to the prosecution of the Collector General for Dublin; and, when he expects to announce the decision of the Lord Lieutenant with reference to the Collector's retention in office?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe first paragraph of this Question I have already answered. With regard to the second, the matter is still before His Excellency, who has not yet decided upon it.
§ MR. HEALYasked whether it was not now two months since this Question was originally put on the Paper; and why was it that the Government, who could so readily proceed against an Irish Member, took such a long time to make up their minds?
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, he doubted whether the Question was put on the Paper two months ago; but if the hon. Member was sure upon the subject it must have been so. The matter was not in the hands of the Executive first, but in the hands of the Land Commission. It had only come before the Executive for decision within the last seven or eight days, and it was not yet decided upon.
§ MR. HEALYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the telegraph is now in working operation between London and Cork?
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, the Lord Lieutenant, as far as he knew, might have only just received the Papers, and to decide upon the retention of a public servant—he would not say a high servant, but any public servant—was a matter that could not be done offhand, especially at a distance from the town whore that public servant resided.