HC Deb 05 June 1891 vol 353 cc1727-8
COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is correctly reported to have pointed out in a public speech that in by far the greater portion of Ireland there is no longer any necessity for such provisions in the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act as are not embodied in the Scotch Law; and if he will give substance to these remarks by recommending His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant to remit the unexpired portions of the sentences on the hon. Members for Cork and Mayo Counties?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

In answer to the hon. and gallant Gentleman, I have to say that it is the fact that I recently stated that in my judgment there was no longer any necessity for retaining the Proclamations of the greater portion of Ireland under certain provisions of the Crimes Act, notably those under that portion of Section 2 which deals with summary jurisdiction in cases of criminal conspiracy. I never suggested, however, that any action of the Government in this matter should be retrospective.

MR. SEXTON

Does the declaration of the right hon. Gentleman mean that the Government have made up their minds to withdraw the Proclamations of these districts?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The general policy I have indicated will very shortly be carried out.

COLONEL NOLAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman at the same time release such prisoners as have not been convicted by a jury?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The fact that the Crimes Act is no longer necessary in certain parts of Ireland does not prove that it was not necessary at the time it was applied, or that the persons convicted under it were wrongly convicted.

COLONEL NOLAN

I asked a plain question, and I should like to have a definite and direct answer to the question.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I thought I had given the hon. and gallant Gentleman a direct answer. It is not the duty of the Government to advise the Lord Lieutenant to exercise the Prerogative of mercy, and it never has been done by the Government. If anyone desires the Prerogative of mercy to be extended to him he should memorialise.