§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a circular was issued on the 12th of October last by the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary, putting an end to the arrangement by which the offices of assistant clerks to county inspectors were occupied by sergeants of the force; whether all the sergeants deprived of office by the circular, except one, Sergeant Bratton, were Catholics; and whether Sergeant Bratton has since been appointed Chief Clerk at Athlone; whether there were any Catholics, and, it so, how many, among the sergeants, about ten in number, who have been retained in the 1103 county inspectors' offices in contravention of the circular; whether thirty-six constables were examined at the depot last November, with a view to the appointment of the most suitable to be clerks to county inspectors; who examined and valued the papers of the candidates; were the candidates informed of the result of the examination; how is the fact explained that every one of the competing constables since appointed clerk to a county inspector is a Protestant; and, whether, notwithstanding the circular of the 12th of October, discontinuing sergeant clerks, the Protestant constable clerks who since attained the rank of sergeant are permitted still to hold the clerkships?
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANThe Inspector General informs me that he found it necessary to make the order referred to for disciplinary and other reasons. Exceptions were made in some cases where the duties were of greater importance; and of eight sergeants retained in these circumstances six are Roman Catholics. In consequence of the order seven sergeants had to revert to ordinary duty. Five of these were Roman Catholics and two were Protestants. Of these seven, two Roman Catholics and two Protestants have been since re-appointed to vacancies, and Sergeant Bratton is one of these. The examination referred to was most carefully conducted, and the candidates who were unsuccessful were so informed. The men who took the first two places were Roman Catholics and received the first appointments. Out of eight appointments made three were Roman Catholics. Two assistant clerks, a Protestant and a Roman Catholic, have attained the rank of sergeant since the issue of the order, and both have been required to revert to ordinary duty. I give these details with the view of showing the absolute want of foundation for the allegations of partiality on the score of religion; but I must again point out the undesirability of Questions of this kind in reference to a disciplined force in which promotions are made on the ground of merit alone.