HC Deb 27 February 1896 vol 37 cc1247-8
MR. F. A. O'KEEFFE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, referring to the correspondence that has lately taken place between the Lord Bishop of Limerick and himself, as published in the Irish papers, whether he will state in what state the Scheme No. 90 framed by the Educational Endowments (Ireland) Commissioners now stands; and, whether, seeing that this House on 17th May, 1895, decided that the said Scheme should pass into law with the exception of paragraph 6, which gave a right of pre-emption to the Rev. W. Gregg, of Limerick, of certain premises at Roxborough, Limerick, and that the Corporation of Limerick, as the proper local authority under the Act, based their dissent to the Scheme by petitions to this House against only that part of the Scheme expunged by the said Resolution, he will explain what reasons exist for not carrying into effect the said Resolution and giving the Scheme immediate practical operation?

MR. MCCARTAN

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, I would ask him whether, considering the grave and serious charges made against him by the Most Rev. Dr. O'Dwyer, Bishop of Limerick, in the correspondence recently published in the Freeman's Journal, he has any explanation to offer to the House?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

My letter of the 18th instant, addressed to the Bishop of Limerick, and published with the other correspondence to which the hon. Member refers, contains a detailed statement of the position and of the circumstances under which a revision of the Scheme is to be submitted to the Privy Council. To that letter I have nothing to add by way of further explanation.

MR. O'KEEFFE

At what time does it come into operation, or is it to be definitely postponed; and will any effect be given to the Resolution of the House of Commons of May last?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

If the Scheme meets with the approval of the Privy Council it will in due course be laid on the Table of House, and hon. Members will have an opportunity of discussing it.

MR. O'KEEFFE

Is it this Session?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I should think that in all probability it would be this Session.