§ MR. PIERCE MAHONY (Meath, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the sum demanded by the Mount Jerome Cemetery Company for the statue of the late Thomas Davis; whether he can state from whom the Cemetery Company received the statue; whether they made any payment on receiving it; and whether they have subsequently made any expenditure in respect of it; and, if so, how much?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.I am afraid that I cannot carry this matter any further. When the proposal was first made, it was understood that the Science and Art Department were simply asked to accept this statue, and to make provision for its presentation. The statue has since been refused, except on payment. I have no means of obtaining the information asked for in the last two paragraphs of the question; but I understand that, in the opinion of the Science and Art Department, they have no power to spend money out of their funds for such a purpose. Unless the statue can be conveyed to the Department without 161 charge, the Department will be unable to take it. They have expressed their willingness to take charge of it.
§ MR. PIERCE MAHONYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what sum has been demanded?
§ MR. JACKSONI think it will, perhaps, be better not to give any information as to what has taken place, which must, more or less, be considered to be of a private character.