§ DR. ROBERT AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that in the town of Newport, County Mayo, which has a mainly Roman Catholic population, the officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary (including the District Inspector, the Head Constable, and two sergeants) are Protestants; and whether it is in accordance with the usage of the Royal Irish Constabulary to select officers who are Protestants for Roman Catholic Districts like Newport?
§ *THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds CentralThe allocation of the officer and men to Newport, as to other stations, was not regulated by their religious persuasions, but by the requirements of the service, and it would be impossible, as well as inexpedient, to create religious tests in the selection of officers for districts which may be considered either mainly Protestant or Catholic.