§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that on last St. Patrick's Day the Lieutenant in charge of I Company, S. D. Royal Artillery, on detachment duty at Burgemena, Malta, ordered the Irish soldiers to remove shamrock from their caps, notwithstanding that the Commanding Officer in Malta had given permission for all Irishmen in his command to wear shamrock on and off parade on that day; whether the troops in Ireland wore shamrock on St. Patrick's Day without any interference with proper discipline; and, whether the action of this officer was in accordance with the Regulations of the Army; and, if not, what action does he propose to take in the matter?
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I wish to ask the hon. Gentleman whether, in the event of his answer to this Question being in the affirmative, he is prepared to allow Protestants to wear the Orange lily on July 12? [Laughter.]
§ MR. BRODRICKThat is a Question in regard to which my hon. Friend has been informed so often, that he must excuse me if I do not go into the matter again.
§ MR. W. JOHNSTONI never had an answer from you.
§ *MR. BRODRICKNo report on the subject has been made to the War Office, and no action in the matter is contemplated.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Similar incidents have occurred before, and the War Office have always made inquiries when asked, and have expressed their opinion on the subject.
§ *MR. BRODRICKIf there was a breach of the Commanding Officer's orders, no doubt the Commanding Officer will inquire into the matter; but it is not a subject for inquiry by the War Office.