§ MR. CARSON (Dublin University)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether under the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill it is intended to prohibit the Judges of the High Court in Ireland, in actions heard before them, from determining whether any Irish Act or any provision thereof is beyond the powers of the Irish Legislature; and whether the said Judges would under the said Bill be bound to give effect to any such Act or provision, although it is in their opinion ultra vires?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEThe question put to me by the hon. and learned Gentleman includes two perfectly distinct inquiries. The answer to each of them is simply a brief "No."
MR. T. M. HEALYI wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether your attention has been directed to the constant series of questions with regard to the Home Rule Bill, and whether it has not been the practice of the Chair in the past to discountenance questions as to the effect of any particular clause or any particular proposal in a Bill which has yet to come up for discussion in Committee?
§ MR. SPEAKERI am not cognizant of any such rule having been laid down. But after what happened the other day, on the reply of a Minister, I feel my hands strengthened in declining to allow questions to be put on the Paper which refer to the details of a coming Bill.
§ MR. JOHNSTONIn consequence of that decision of the Chair, may I ask if the Prime Minister will postpone the Second Reading of the Bill till the country has had an opportunity of considering it?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI shall avail myself again of the brief but effective monosyllable which I just now used in my reply to the hon. and learned Member for the Dublin University, "No."