HC Deb 22 May 1890 vol 344 cc1588-9
MR. T. M. HEALY

I wish to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to a Circular issued by the late Captain Plunkett, Divisional Commissioner for Munster, to District Inspectors Royal Irish Constabulary, of which the following is an extract, as regards publicans:— D.I. Boycotting. In any prominent case of boycotting in your district, especially in a case where the person boycotted is under police protection, the proper steps to take are:—

  1. I. Get person boycotted to consent to go with police and demand supplies from those who have refused or are likely to refuse him, and more especially if such person refusing is a publican:
  2. II. If he consents send with him one or two intelligent policemen with in. structions to note carefully anything said and done;"
will he inquire from the Irish Office why "publicans" were directed to be singled out for prosecution; and will the special directions as regards licensed traders now be withdrawn?

*MR. RITCHIE

The hon. and learned Member will realise that the matters referred to in the question are not such as in any way come within the jurisdiction of my Department, and therefore I cannot give him any information with regard to them.

MR. T. M. HEALY

I ask the right hon. Gentleman the question, because of its bearing on the Licensing Bill. Publicans in Ireland are to be singled out for prosecution, according to this circular, and may lose all right to compensation.

*MR. RITCHIE

As I have frequently said, the Bill makes no alteration what- ever in the position of holders of licences. They may lose their licences under the existing law for offences such as the hon. Member refers to.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Would the right hon. Gentleman have any objection to use his influence with the Irish Government to get a stop put to the special prosecution of publicans referred to in this circular, in view of the introduction of this Bill, which, at any rate, favours the publicans of England and Scotland?Why should publicans in Ireland be singled out for prosecution any more than they are in England?

*MR. RITCHIE

The Irish publicans will be in no way worse off than the English publicans. In each case, if there was cause of complaint, there would have to be a representation made against renewal of licence.