§ MR. MOLLOYI wish to ask a Question of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, of which I have given him private Notice. It is, Whether the Government intend to make provision for the maintenance of harmless lunatics and idiots in Ireland in establishments other than the union workhouses; and, if so, how soon?
§ MR. TREVELYAN, in reply, said, the subject was one which had engaged the attention of the Irish Executive, who had come to a pretty strong opinion on the matter. The Bills which the Government had ready, and which would be laid before the House at the first opportunity there was of passing them, were of a very important nature, and were, to a great extent, of an administrative character. He was sorry to say the present state of Irish Business was much worse than other Business. It could only be got through, in any reasonable time, by the assistance of those hon. Members who did not agree with the principles of Government measures. At that moment, the only Irish Bill of the Government before the House, which was not a Bill with the principles of which any hon. Member from Ireland quarrelled, and which was to benefit a very large part of Ireland, had been blocked on two occasions by an hon. Member from that country, who he (Mr. 941 Trevelyan) did not understand had any quarrel with it.
§ MR. DAWSONwished to know, whether the right hon. Gentleman was not aware that the objections of the hon. Member referred to were of a very valid nature?