§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the directions given by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, under the 14th section of "The Crimes Act, 1887," make any and what provision for counsel and solicitors of persons charged, and where may those directions be found; are those directions distinct from the rules under the 15th section; do the scales made under the latter rules relate to anything but the travelling and maintenance of the accused and their witnesses; would he state specifically whether the Gweedore prisoners to be tried in the Queen's County at a special session of the Assizes in October will receive from the Crown full and adequate aid to enable them to retain and keep the counsel and solicitors engaged and instructed for their defence before the charge of venue; and, whether there is any scale to meet such a case; and, if not, will he see that one is provided as directed by the Act?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe directions of the Lord Lieutenant, under Section 14 of the Crimes Act, do make provision for counsel and solicitors of persons charged. These directions are embodied in Treasury regulations and are at Dublin Castle. They are distinct from the rules under Section 15. The Gweedore prisoners will, of course, receive from the Crown the same aid as that already given to other prisoners in change of venue cases under the Treasury scale existing.
§ MR. O'DOHERTYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that that only refers to travelling expenses, and that 910 no person has ever received anything except for travelling expenses?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI gather from the information supplied to me that what is done is this: There has been provision made for the travelling expenses of witnesses and for maintenance, and in addition to that I believe there is provision made for solicitors and for counsel—under Sections 14 and 15. That is the impression I gather.
§ MR. O'DOHERTYWill the right hon. Gentleman state where these directions are to be found—in what Treasury Minute?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not know whether there is any objection to make known the contents of the Treasury Minute, but I will inquire into the matter.