§ MR. C. J. ENGLEDOW (Kildare, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is his intention during the present Session to propose legislation to amend the Grand Jury Laws of Ireland, and to provide that the expenditure of the public county funds shall not be entirely in the hands of the landlords and their agents, without almost any representative of the people who provide the major part of the funds now at the disposal of that body, whose responsibility ceases as soon as they are discharged?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURsaid, it was not the intention of the Government during the present Session to propose legislation to amend the Grand Jury laws of Ireland.
§ MR. ENGLEDOWasked the right hon. Gentleman if he was aware that last July a Grand Jury was sworn on which there were 22 landlords and their sons and agents and only one representative of the people.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)inquired whether, if it was not the intention of the Government to introduce legislation this Session, he would give some time to the consideration of the question. They had been promised by both Governments a reform of the Grand Jury laws for 54 year. In 1842 Royal Commissioners recommended——
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, Order! The hon. Gentleman is not asking for information. He is giving it.