§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (for Mr. T. M. HEALY)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many Roman Catholics and how many Protestants are on the 691 Waterford County Inspectors' Promotion List; how many of each religion were, by a recent circular order to District Inspectors by the County Inspector, found disqualified; how many of these found disqualified by the present County Inspector were found eligible by his predecessors in office; and how many Roman Catholic and Protestant sergeants are now "under supervision," awaiting the Report of their District Inspectors at the expiration of three months?
§ MR. JACKSONThe Inspector General reports that the present County Inspector for Waterford has just taken over the county, and that on doing so he went through the promotion list of his predecessor, and in no case was the name of any man removed whom his predecessor thought eligible for promotion. The question of religion forms no element in promotion, which must depend solely on individual fitness.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALYThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last paragraph.
§ MR. JACKSONI said that religion forms no element in promotion, and I think it very undesirable to give that information.