HC Deb 16 May 1895 vol 33 cc1320-2
MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government will grant an early day for the discussion of the question of referring the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act (1887) Repeal Bill to the Standing Committee on Law, &c?

MR. VESEY KNOX (Cavan, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government will be able to afford an opportunity for the Adjourned Debate on the Motion to refer the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act (1887) Repeal Bill to the Standing Committee on Law, &c.?

*MR. JOHN MORLEY

It is not possible for the Government in the present state of public business to give any undertaking on this subject. The Irish Land Bill must be the first and paramount object of their consideration in the distribution of time for Irish business.

MR. J. REDMOND

What I wish to know is, whether the right hon. Gentleman will allow anything to interpose between this Coercion Act Repeal Bill and the House, except the Irish Land Bill and the Welsh Disestablishment Bill?

*MR. J. MORLEY

Questions of that kind ought, I think, to be addressed be to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House; but I have no reason to doubt that the Irish Land Bill will follow the Welsh Bill.

MR. J. REDMOND

That is not what I asked.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can say that this Bill will be taken after the Land Bill?

*MR. J. MORLEY

Surely the hon. Member must be aware that this is not a Government Bill, though the Government heartily and cordially sympathise with its object.

MR. W. REDMOND

What I desire to ask the right hon. Gentleman is this: Will the right hon. Gentleman say that no time will be given to other Irish Bills besides the Land Bill until this Bill is taken up?

*MR. J. MORLEY

Oh no; I certainly cannot say anything of that kind. There is at least one Irish Bill, if not two, which has a prior position in the list of the business of the House.

MR. W. REDMOND

What Bills?

*MR. J. MORLEY

The Municipal Franchise (Ireland) Bill for one.

MR. W. REDMOND

Is that the only Bill?

MR. J. REDMOND

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give precedence to the Coercion Act Repeal Bill over another unofficial Bill, the Irish Sunday Closing Bill?

MR. H. O. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Belfast, W.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any English Bill whatever will be considered?

*MR. J. MORLEY

All these different questions ought to be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.