§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Cork Co., N.E.)I do not know whether the Chief Secretary is sufficiently recovered to answer a Question; but, if so, I would like to ask him a question which has been accidentally dropped off the Paper to-day, and which appeared several days last week. The Question is, Whether, in view of the grave charges made by him at Glasgow against Members of this House, in their capacity as such Members, in connection with the inquest on the body of the late Mr. John Mandeville, he will exert his influence with the First Lord of the Treasury to obtain special facilities for the early and adequate discussion of the same?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, he was not aware of the particular passages to which the hon. Member alluded; but he did criticize two hon. members in that speech, though not, so far as he was aware, in their capacity as Members of Parliament. However, he was extremely anxious that the Irish Estimates should come on at an early date; because nobody was more desirous than he was that full opportunity should be given to hon. Members to ventilate whatever views they might have on the subject of Ireland.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENasked the right hon. Gentleman to consider that a discussion on the Irish Estimates, in which all sorts of topics were huddled together, did not afford a proper opportunity for such a close and consecutive treatment of the question as alone would enable the House to judge between the Chief Secretary and Irish Members.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, he could not agree that the Irish Estimates were an inappropriate occasion for such a discussion. It was more possible to carry on a close and reasoned discussion upon the Estimates, when a Minister had more than one opportunity to speak than, perhaps, any other occasion; and it rested, after all, with hon. Members from Ireland themselves whether they would keep the discussion to one subject, or allow it to wander into all sorts of topics.