§ MR. DANEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a speech alleged to have been made by the Rev. Father Humphreys, C.C., at Tipperary, on Sunday, under the auspices of the National Federation, and reported in the Irish Daily Independent of 1st May instant, in which, commenting upon the Evicted Tenants Bill, he is alleged to have said that if the tenants, who had taken evicted farms, were to be permitted to remain in them the wild justice of revenge would set in once more in Ireland, and the assassin and the hangman would begin their operations amongst them; if so, is it within the power of the Irish Government to take action to prevent the making of such speeches: and what action, if any, has been taken?
MR. J. MORLEYMy attention has been drawn to the speech of the rev. gentleman referred to. I must point out, however, that it contains no statement which would enable the Executive to interfere, nor can the Executive prevent such speeches. It is a severe criticism of a Government measure, and no doubt it is the practice of some persons to predict certain consequences if the measure becomes law, but I cannot see that this constitutes any offence against the law.