§ MR. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will allow the Return standing on the Notice Paper of to-day, referring to the agreement entered into in 1800, between the Government of the day and the Governors of the Bank of Ireland, as to tenancy by the latter of the buildings in College Green, Dublin, formerly devoted to the purposes of an Irish Legislature?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)In answer to the hon. Gentleman I have to say that I understand that a similar question was put to the right hon. Member for the Stirling Burghs (Mr. Campbell-Bannerman) when he was Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant in 1884, and he did not see his way to granting the required documents. I should be glad to know, before making any investigation as to the probability of granting the Return, whether any public object is intended to be served by it? Perhaps the hon. Member can give me some information on that point.
§ MR. CRILLYIn view of the likelihood of Home Rule being a burning question at the next General Election, and in view of the fact that the Irish people will insist upon getting the building back for the purposes of the new Parliament, I want to know what were the arrangements come to in 1800 between the Government of that day and the Bank of Ireland so that we may know upon what terms the building can be taken possession of again for the Irish people?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think, so far as I understand the matter, that the real difficulty in the way of Home Rule will consist of any arrangements come to in 1800 between the Bank 1649 of Ireland and the Government of the day. I am sure that when Home Rule is granted the hon. Member will find no difficulty in obtaining the necessary premises for conducting the business of Ireland.
§ MR. CRILLYIn view of the fact that when the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Midlothian introduced his Home Rule Bill in 1886 he reprinted for the use of Members a number of historical documents connected with the period of the Union, I would like to know what objection and what difficulty there would be in allowing this Parliament, the successor to the Parliament which made the arrangement, to see the agreement entered into with the Bank of Ireland?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question may I ask——