§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is able to state the number of superintendents of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, how many of them are Protestants, and how many Roman Catholics; whether any Protestants have become Roman Catholics, and afterwards have been promoted; whether a Protestant Inspector who, while on leave of absence, attended a meeting in London, was called upon to account for this; whether members of the Force are permitted to become members of the Gaelic Athletic Association, wearing its uniform, and acting as stewards; and if he will say what is the number of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, and how many of them are Protestants?
§ * MR. JACKSONThe Commissioner of Police reports there are seven superintendents in the Dublin Metropolitan Police, and they are all Roman Catholics. There is no record or trace of an occurrence of the nature mentioned in the second paragraph. The Inspector referred to in the third paragraph had spoken at a public meeting and was publicly reported. It was pointed out to him that he should not have brought himself thus prominently before the public without previously obtaining the views of his superiors. The reply to the inquiry in the fourth paragraph is in the negative. The Commissioner adds that the question of religion does not form any factor in the promotions in the Force. I would venture to deprecate these questions as regards the religion of men in the Public Service as being not conducive to public interests.
§ MR. JOHNSTONMay I be permitted to say I merely asked this question to show that the Protestants in Ireland are not getting everything their own way.