§ COLONEL BLUNDELL (Lancashire, S.W., Ince)asked the Chief Secretary 118 to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the possibility of connecting Great Britain with Ireland by a sub-marine tunnel has ever been considered by competent engineers, now that the possibility of making a tunnel between England and France is believed to be established, if regarded solely from an engineer's point of view; if not, whether the Government is disposed to have the subject so considered, the distance between Port Patrick and Donaghadee being about equal to that between Dover and Calais, though the intervening strata are probably much more difficult between Great Britain and Ireland than between England and France?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I am not aware that this project has ever been seriously and practically entertained. I do not think the Government, under any circumstances, should take the initiative in such a matter.