§ MR. W. J. CORBET (Wicklow, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What is the number of patients in the Richmond Lunatic Asylum; how many of them are Catholics; how many medical officers are attached to the staff of the Asylum, and how many of them are Catholics; and, whether he will take steps to provide for the appointment of at least one Catholic medical officer in the Institution?
§ THE CHIEF SECEETAEY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)There are in the Eichmond Lunatic Asylum 1,094 patients, of whom 907 are Catholics. There are five medical officers, one of whom is a Catholic. The only appointment for which the Government is directly responsible is that of the Resident Medical Superintendent. The gentleman recently selected for that post by the late Government is, I believe, a Protestant; but I have not heard of any objections to the appointment on that or any other ground.
MR. W. J. COEBETasked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the Roman Chatholic chaplain experienced great difficulty in not having a medical officer to consult in reference to the administration of the Sacraments? He wished to point out that there was no Catholic medical officer. The only Catholic there was a surgeon, and not a medical officer.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH,in reply, said, he was not aware of the facts stated by the hon. Member.