§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the deputations of the several ranks of the Royal Irish Constabulary which he recently received laid before him any printed or written document concerning the proposed terms of their dismissal under the Home Rule Bill; and, in such case, if it can be laid upon the Table for the guidance of the Committee in considering the clause disbanding the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Dublin Metropolitan Police; and if he is now in a position to state what the probable cost to the British Exchequer of such disbandment will be?
MR. J. MORLEYI hope the Paper containing the representations made to me by the officers and men of the Royal Irish Constabulary will be issued this afternoon or evening. As to the last paragraph of the question, I do not think it is possible to make even an approximate estimate.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTWill it not be possible to give any estimate in the course of the discussions on the subject?
MR. J. MORLEYThe conditions on which these pensions are to be awarded are so contingent and so hypothetical, and depend on such a variety of circumstances, that it is extremely hard to find a basis for such an estimate.