§ MR. MAURICE HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of recent disclosures in the Dublin Police Courts as to the mischief being done by bogus clubs, he will take steps to secure 639 the extension to Ireland of the Registration of Clubs Bill now before the House?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY,) Newcastle-upon-TyneUp to the present the Dublin police have instituted 16 prosecutions against these bogus drinking clubs, and the Magistrates have imposed fines amounting to £408, of which amount a sum of £158 has been paid into Court. Nine persons are undergoing terms of from three to six months' imprisonment for non-payment of fines. Two cases were dismissed and five are pending. Five of the clubs ceased to exist after prosecution, and the remainder have shown a great decrease in business, to the consequent benefit of the general public. In the event of its being found that there is a prospect of the Bill becoming law, I shall be prepared to consider whether its provisions should be applied to Ireland.