§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)On behalf of the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Public Libraries (Ireland) Bill, which passed the House of Commons in June last and was afterwards introduced into the House of Lords, and has for some time past been in Committee stage in that House, cannot be further proceeded with by reason of the Irish Office having failed to state in terms the Amendments which that Office desired should be made in the Bill; and whether, as the Bill is a non-contentious measure, and passed the House of Commons owing to facilities given by all parties, he will, without delay, cause the Amendment desired by the Irish Office to be put down, and will make such arrangements as shall cause its passage into law to be facilitated this Session?
§ MR. BRYCE (for Mr. J. MORLEY)The hon. Member will recollect that until towards the close of the first part of the present Session the Chief Secretary understood from the hon. Member that he and his correspondents would prefer that the Public Libraries (Ireland) Bill should be dropped rather than it should be amended in the direction thought necessary by the Irish Government. However this may be, the Irish Government have done nothing to impede the progress of the Bill in another place, and it has always been and is now open to those who are promoting the Bill to take such steps as they may deem advisable for facilitating its passage.
§ COLONEL NOLANWill the Chancellor of the Duchy give a little more information as to the steps necessary to be taken?
§ MR. BRYCEThe best course would be for the parties interested to agree upon such Amendments as would make it possible for the Irish Government to assent to the Bill and would bring it into such a non-contentious shape as would insure its passing into law.