§ DR. FOX (King's Co., Tullamore)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Visiting Justices recommended that the hon. Member for North Monaghan (Mr. P. O'Brien) and Mr. Hayden, now con- 318 fined as first-class misdemeanants in Tullamore Gaol, be allowed to leave their cells for three hours out of the 24, and to use gas till 10 o'clock p.m. and, whether they are now confined to their cells 22 out of the 24 hours, and are disallowed the use of gas after 8.30 o'clock p.m.; and, if so, why?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, the Visiting Justices made the recommendation stated in the Question, subject to the approval of the General Prisons Board. According to the Rules, however, these privileges could only be granted on medical grounds, which did not exist in this case. The prisoners were, however, taken out of their cells to receive visitors, and that made the period of their confinement considerably less than 22 out of the 24 hours.