HC Deb 12 June 1896 vol 41 cc956-7
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, how many extra police are in county Clare, and what is their cost; and, whether their number could be reduced?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

There are at present in County Clare 143 men of the extra force, whose cost to the county is, approximately, about £5,000 per annum. These men are practically all engaged in affording special protection, and as the necessity for such protection disappears the extra force will be reduced or altogether withdrawn. In this connection, I may add with reference to a statement of the hon. Gentleman in the House on Tuesday last, that when the late Government acceded to office the strength of the extra force in the county was 121 men. The force was increased to 171 men by the late Government in March, 1893, and when it quitted office the number stood at 143, as against 121 when it entered office.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

asked whether protection, in the case of a man like Maguire, was afforded by the free force or the paid force of the county, and also how this matter was determined?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

said he must ask for notice.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

desired to know whether Clare had got its full quota of the free force.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I presume it has, but I will inquire into the matter.

MAJOR JAMESON (Clare, W.)

would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he was not aware that a great part of this police force was used for the protection of Maguire, and if his reason for—

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The Question on the Paper has been fully answered. If the hon. Member wishes to ask another he must give notice.