§ MR. BARTON (Armagh, Mid)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Town Commissioners of Dungannon, being all Protestants, appointed to the School Attendance Committee four Protestants and one Roman Catholic; that the National Board of Education appointed five Roman Catholics as their nominees on the Committee; and that the six Roman Catholic members 1139 of the committee have appointed all the officers against the wishes and protests of the Protestant minority; whether the population of Dungannon is half Protestant and half Roman Catholic, and that two-thirds of the ratepayers paying three-fourths of the rates are Protestants; and whether the Board of National Education have received a protest on the subject from the Dungannon Town Commissioners?
MR. J. MORLEYIt is a fact that the Town Commissioners of Dungannon appointed to the School Attendance Committee four Protestants and one Roman Catholic, and that the National Board appointed five Roman Catholics to act on the committee. The population of Dungannon shows a preponderance of Roman Catholics over Protestants—namely, 52.2 per cent. Catholics as compared with 47.8 per cent. Protestants. I have no information as to the proportions of the rates paid by Catholics and Protestants, or whether the Local Authority consists entirely of Protestants, as stated in the question. A letter, dated on the 2nd instant, has been received by the National Board from the Local Authority protesting against the action of the Board in appointing five Roman Catholics on the committee, and complaining that in the appointment of school attendance officers by the committee the recommendations of the Local Authority have been disregarded. The Commissioners of National Education have replied that they have acted to the best of their judgment.
§ MR. MACARTNEYArising out of the answer, I should like to know if it was the duty of the National Education Commissioners to appoint such a number of Roman Catholics?
MR. J. MORLEYI explained yesterday to the House that the Commissioners always have in view the desirability of adjusting the representation of the different Religious Bodies in Ireland upon an equitable basis, always, however, turning the scale in favour of the minority, so that that minority, whether Protestant or Catholic, shall have a slight advantage.
§ MR. MACARTNEYSurely that principle has not been applied to Dungannon?
§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)Has not experience shown that it is a settled principle in the North of Ireland, where there is a Protestant majority, to appoint no Roman Catholics at all?
MR. J. MORLEYI do not think that I can answer that question off-hand, because I should have to examine all the Returns. My impression, however, is that my hon. Friend is right.