MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Who is responsible for the disbursement of the Secret Service Fund in Ireland in the room of ex-County Inspector French; and, whether the men, Noonan and M'Dermott, referred to in French's letter, are still in the employment of the police?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANEx-County Inspector French never was responsible for the disbursement of the Secret Service Fund in Ireland. That responsibility rests with the Chief Secretary for the time being. Without in any way admitting the assumption involved in the latter part of the Question as to the two men named in it, I must distinctly decline to give any information as to the dealings of the Detective Department.
MR. O'BRIENMight I ask, whoever was responsible, was not the actual expenditure of the money in the hands of Detective Director French, and were these two men in his employment?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI have already answered the hon. Member by stating that the responsibility to Parliament and the country for the disbursement of this money rests upon the Chief Secretary.