HC Deb 10 November 1884 vol 293 cc1369-70
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If Captain Lloyd, Governor of the County Sligo Prison, has become a member of the local Constitutional (Orange) Club; and if Dr. Murray, the Medical attendant of the prison, is a member of the Orange Society; and, whether, if so, such relations are permissible to officials in the public service?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

It has, I believe, been made sufficiently clear upon former occasions in this House that the Irish Government entirely disapprove of public servants taking an active or prominent part in political demonstrations, but that they do not think it within their province to exercise control as to what clubs they may belong to. The Government are not made acquainted with the names of the members of the Orange Society; but I may say that I am informed that the hon. Member is quite mistaken in supposing that the Sligo Club, to which he refers, is any way connected with that society.

MR. SEXTON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the rule to which he refers applies all round; will public officials in Ireland be allowed to join Nationalist Associations, provided they take no active or prominent part in political demonstrations?

[No reply.]