§ MR. MITCHELL HENRY (Glasgow, Blackfriars)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, if the Government of Ireland Bill becomes Law, the new Irish Government will be entitled to become the custodian of the Archives of Dublin Castle, including the inquiries into murders, outrages, treason, and other felonies during the past seven years, some of which resulted in public prosecutions and some not; and, if so, what protection the Government intends to give to those persons who, either voluntarily or involuntarily, have been concerned in such inquiries?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)The subject of the records in the custody of the Irish Government is one of very considerable and obvious importance, and has not escaped our attention. An Act of Parliament dealing with the custody of Irish records was passed in 1867. We consider that, under the circumstances supposed in the Question, new legislation will be necessary; and in the preparation of the clauses aiming at that legislation the matters referred to in the Question will not be left out of sight.