§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)In the absence of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he has observed that the Pembroke Township (Dublin) Commissioners have passed a resolution protesting that there are no funds at their disposal for the purpose of defraying the cost of compulsory education in their township; whether he is aware that the proposal to charge upon the ratepayers of Irish towns the cost of a system imposed upon them without franchise to the inhabitants or discretion to the Local Authorities, meets with emphatic disapproval; and whether he has any reason to anticipate that the compulsory system will be worked and paid for in those cities and 690 towns in which the Local Authorities have already protested against the continued exclusion of the Schools of the Christian Brothers from the primary system and the free education scheme? Adding to this question, I would also ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware whether the Chief Secretary has received a letter from the Mayor of Waterford, written on behalf of that and other Municipalities, and expressing the opinion that, unless the Bill includes within its operation the Christian Brothers' Schools and other voluntary schools, it will be opposed to the views of large sections of the Irish people, and cannot be successfully worked, because it will do violence to the religious feelings of the people?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN,) Dublin UniversityI am not aware whether my right hon. Friend has received the communication to which the hon. Member has referred. I would ask the hon. Gentleman to be so good as to postpone his question until Monday, when the Chief Secretary will probably be present to answer it.
§ MR. SEXTONIf it is not possible for the Chief Secretary to be here before Monday, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to say now when it is proposed that the Irish Education Bill shall be taken, because it will be necessary to secure a full attendance of Irish Members in order that the Bill may be fully debated in Committee.
§ MR. MADDENI do not think my right hon. Friend will be present before Monday. The latter part of the hon. Member's question is one for the Leader of the House, and I will take care to communicate to him the remarks of the hon. Member.
§ MR. SEXTONIf the right hon. Gentleman will not be present until Monday, I presume it is not intended to take the Bill then?
§ MR. MADDENI cannot give any undertaking, but I will communicate to the Leader of the House the suggestion of the hon. Member that the Bill shall not be taken until a subsequent day, and I am sure my right hon. Friend will consider the suggestion.