§ DR. COMMINS(for Mr. PATRICK O'BRIEN) (Monaghan, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Commission of Inquiry, about to be issued by the Government to inquire into the recent riots at Belfast, will be empowered to investigate the deplorable occurrences of the 8th instant at Monaghan; and, whether the conduct of the magistrates, paid and unpaid, in the several places where riots recently occurred will be investigated by said Commission?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. STANSFELD) (Halifax)(who replied) said: The Irish Government do not think it necessary to have a sworn inquiry into the occurrence at Monaghan. The whole affair did not last more than half-an-hour. Not more than 30 or 40 persons were engaged in it. And there is every reason to suppose that it had its origin in a personal and not a party or political motive. As regards Belfast, the inquiry will extend, as already stated, to the action of the magistrates.
§ MR. SEXTON (Sligo, S.)Can they compel the attendance of witnesses?
§ MR. STANSFELDI do not know. I will make inquiry.