§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether an investigation was recently held as to the character of Mr. Thomas Conway, one of the candidates for the office of Professor in the Marlborough Street Training College, Dublin, under the National Board; and whether he will state the result of that investigation, and lay the Evidence taken thereat, and the Correspondence relating thereto, upon the Table of the House?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Commissioners of National Education had an investigation recently held by both their Secretaries into charges alleged against Mr. Conway, and on the Report and Evidence they ordered as follows:—
That the Commissioners are satisfied of the innocence of Mr. Conway, and that no imputation remains upon his moral character.For obvious reasons the Commissioners invariably decline to furnish copies of Reports of inquiries by their officers.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI believe this gentleman has lately been appointed to the position of Professor in the Training College by the National Board. It is a most serious thing that a Professor should lie under the imputation which has been made in this case; and if the appointment has been made, I shall raise the question on the Vote for the National Board of Education.
MR. J. MORLEYIt is no part of my duty to meddle with these appointments by the National Board; indeed, it would be contrary to all precedent for me to interfere.