HC Deb 13 February 1888 vol 322 cc260-1
MR. W. A. MACDONALD (Queen's Co., Ossory)

said, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland a Question, of which he had given private Notice—namely, How many branches of the Irish National League had been suppressed?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

The Association known as the Irish National League has been suppressed in the folio wing districts:—the County of Clare, the County of Kerry; the Baronies of Condons, Clangibbon, Duhallow, West Muskerry, in the County of Cork; the Baronies of Leitrim, and Loughrea, in the County of Galway; and the Barony of Shelburne, in County Wexford. I cannot, however, undertake to give the number of the branches affected thereby. No doubt, the hon. Member will be able to obtain all the information he requires as to the suppressed branches at the office of the National League.

MR. W. A. MACDONALD

The right hon. Gentleman has misunderstood the purport of my Question. I did not ask how many branches of the National League had been suppressed on paper. What I want to know is how many have been suppressed in reality? How many have been so suppressed that the meetings of those branches are held or have been held since the date of their alleged suppression?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am afraid I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the information he asks for.