§ MR. N. K. SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether 1036 he has yet taken into consideration the petitions presented by the fishermen and other residents of the district of And-more, county Waterford; (2) whether he is aware that the late Mr. Villiers Stuart, of Dromana, as published in the Appendix to the second Report of the Royal Commission on Irish Public Works in 1888, mentions Ardmore as an admirable site for a breakwater, and points out the advantage it would confer on the fishing industry there, and the probable development of it; and that the evidence of Sir Robert Sandeman also emphasises the necessity of a small slip or breakwater at Ardmore; and (3) whether, in view of the evidence referred to, the Lord Lieutenant will make a favourable reply to the prayer of the petitioners.
§ *MR. GERALD BALFOURThe facts are as stated in the second paragraph, though it is to be observed that the Royal Commission in their Report did not accept the view of the late Mr. Stuart; at all events, they made no recommendation in favour of the scheme suggested. The Memorial in question has been received, but I must repeat what I have already stated, that there is no evidence before me to indicate that the work referred to has any special claim to Government assistance.