§ MR. DANEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the present salary attached to the office of Under Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant; whether the said salary was increased, and by what amount and upon what grounds, when Sir Robert Hamilton was Under Secretary; was Sir Robert Hamilton, when holding that Office, allowed any extra sum for the payment of premiums upon life assurance, or for the education of his children; and, if so, upon what grounds; and is the present Under Secretary granted the same allowances, or when were the same discontinued?
MR. J. MORLEYThe salary attaching to the office of Under Secretary is £2,000 per annum, without extra allowances. In April, 1883, the salary was temporarily increased to £2,500 under exceptional circumstances, the increase being personal to Sir Robert Hamilton, the then Under Secretary. The special increase of £500 was continued to Sir Redvers Buller while acting temporarily as Under Secretary. It ceased on Sir West Ridgeway's appointment in October, 1887.
MR. J. MORLEYI really do not think that the third paragraph of the question at all affects the root of the matter. I do not think there is any reason for me to go into the grounds which induced the Government of the day to increase the salary. A certain amount of delicacy is called for in these matters.
MR. T. M. HEALYIs the right hon. Gentleman responsible for what was done by the Government 10 years ago?
MR. J. MORLEYI have already stated that the allowance was special and personal. Sir R. Hamilton received £2,000 a year, plus £500 a year as a special allowance in his case.
MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman give us the amount of special fees paid to all the Tory lawyers under the late Government?
§ MR. CARSONAnd also the amount paid to the prisoners' counsel in the Maryborough trials?
§ [No answer was given.]