§ MR. J. REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the financial relations between England and Ireland since 1800, with a view of fixing the permanent contribution of Ireland to the Imperial Exchequer on a just and equitable basis, after the establishment of an Irish Parliament?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI have given much attention to this question. I am aware that, for the purpose of fixing definitively the financial relations of the two countries, the present information available is insufficient, and it follows, of course, that the subject ought to be probed to the bottom, and all possible 1478 information acquired for the purpose. Undoubtedly the Government think the best means of acquiring that information would be a Royal Commission, and it is therefore the intention of the Government that Her Majesty shall be advised to issue a Commission to inquire and report into the question. With regard to the particular moment of issuing such a Commission, it will be premature in present circumstances to enter into that subject.
§ MR. J. REDMONDIn putting a supplemental question I may, I hope, be allowed to say with what gratification I have heard the announcement of the right hon. Gentleman. I know it is premature to discuss now the exact moment of issuing the Commission, but I should like to ask whether there will be a prompt issue of the Commission—that is to say, in the present year?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI think it is doubtful whether, in the present state of circumstances and so long as a provisional system is contemplated, it would be expedient to issue a Commission with a view to a permanent arrangement. But the Commission will be issued at the earliest opportunity relative to the state of circumstances so as to make it absolutely certain that Parliament will be in possession of the necessary information long before the time comes for making a permanent arrangement.
§ MR. J. REDMONDI presume I may take it that the right hon. Gentleman and his Government will make themselves responsible for the issue of the Commission, and not hold it over till after the next appeal to the country.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEThere ought to be great impartiality in composing such a Commission, and various opinions should be represented upon it; but if I were asked the question I should prefer a Commission issued by the present Government to one issued by any other Government.
§ MR. GOSCHEN (St. George's, Hanover Square)I do not wish to press the right hon. Gentleman, but may I ask whether he means to go back as far as 1800, or will he confine himself to the general proposition of inquiry into the present financial relations of England and Ireland, and those of the immediate past?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEUndoubtedly my own notion is that, without fixing a precise date, the reference ought to embrace all the historical matter that has an essential bearing on the subject. I think the state of the financial relations and conditions of the two countries at the time of the Union and the condition of the Irish National Debt at that time will enter into the purview of the Commission.
§ MR. J. REDMONDI hope the right hon. Gentleman will forgive me for pressing him. Will he not consider the advisability of issuing the Commission forthwith—at any rate, this year, as I do not think it would be satisfactory for the question to be left open two or three years.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI think it would be well for the hon. Member to postpone that question.
§ MR. J. REDMONDVery well, Sir; with the permission of the right hon. Gentleman I will put it at a subsequent period of the Session.