§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the present system of making loans to Irish fishermen renders it practically impossible for most of the members of that class who require loans to obtain them; and, if so, whether the relaxation in the rules relating to this matter, which was made by the Lord Lieutenant in December last in the case of fishermen on the west and north-west coasts of Ireland, will be extended to the cases of the rest of that body for the purpose of enabling such of them as are without proper gear and boats to procure those indispensable requisites to the profitable pursuit of the fishing industry? The hon. Member added that perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would also be able to answer a further Question of which he had given him private Notice. It was—Whether the relationship referred to in the Question on the Paper was not made by order of the Lords Justices in Council in January last without restriction of particular localities; and, if so, why it has been restricted to the west and northwest coasts of Ireland?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I regret I have not been able to obtain the views of the Fishery Inspectors, as they are absent on their duties. If the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat the Question next week, of which he has given me private Notice, I will endeavour to give him an answer.