§ DR. KINNEARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If under the new rules the Mounted Force of the Royal Irish Constabulary are practically prevented from promotion until after about twenty years of service, and if the old system cannot be reintroduced of dismounting at forty-five years of age, thereby giving the senior and superior constables an opportunity of advancement?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe new rule does not affect constables in the Mounted Force as detrimentally as the Question infers. Constables in that branch of the Constabulary are entitled to present themselves for the qualifying examination for promotion in the Infantry; but, if they prefer to remain in the Mounted Force, they must await their turn for vacancies, which are naturally fewer in the smaller Force. The heads of the Force would not recommend a return to the old rule of dismounting at 45 years of age. That 134 rule was complained of by men examined before the recent Commission of Inquiry; and it appears to have been abrogated both for the sake of the men and on public grounds, the feeling being that a change of duty at that age was in most cases a hardship to the individual, and injurious to the Public Service.