§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to a report in The Derry Journal of the prosecution of Hugh Doherty at Rathmullen Petty Sessions, County Donegal, before Mr. Orr, R.M., for not having his name on his cart; that Mr. Doherty proved that he had his name thereon in Irish letters, as he spoke and wrote Irish, but that nevertheless the Resident Magistrate imposed a fine of a shilling and costs; and whether, as some time ago a Donegal farmer had his application for a fair rent dismissed because his name, having no English equivalent, was given in the Irish form in the originating notice, the Government will ascertain what is the analogous practice in Wales and the Highlands, and instruct the police not to bring prosecutions such as that brought against Mr. Doherty, and remit the fine and costs?
MR. J. MORLEYI am informed that Hugh Doherty was summoned to Rathmullen Petty Sessions on the 5th May for using his cart on the public road without having his name and residence printed thereon. The case was proved in the ordinary way before the Resident Magistrate and two local Justices, and a fine of one shilling and costs imposed. Doherty did not, I learn, prove he had his name, or any name, on the cart in either English or Irish letters, nor did he produce any evidence to that effect. He appears to have stated in an incoherent manner that his name was on the cart in Irish characters; but the prosecuting constable proved there were no letters of any kind to be seen on the vehicle when found. The Irish Land Commission state they have no knowledge of any application to have a fair rent fixed having been dismissed for any such reason 1744 as mentioned in the second paragraph of the question.
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)Arising out of the question, may I ask whether, in justice to the Irish nation, the Prime Minister will introduce a clause into the Government of Ireland Bill enacting that the Debates in the Irish Legislative Assembly shall be in Irish?
§ [No answer was given.]