§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state by whom the Inquiry into the circumstances connected with the loss of the lightship Puffin will be held; whether arrangements will be made for the presence of a nautical assessor, and whether the Court will have authority to compel the attendance of witnesses and to examine them on oath; and, whether the Inquiry will be open to the Press and the public?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe Inquiry into the circumstances attending the loss of the Puffin will be held by the Chief Magistrate at Dublin with Nautical Assessors appointed by the Secretary of State. The Court will have authority to compel the attendance of witnesses and to examine them on oath; and the Inquiry will be open to the Press and to the public according to the usual practice.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would consider the desirability of transferring the venue to Queenstown or Cork.
§ MR. RITCHIEsaid he had not considered that point, but if the hon. Gentleman chose to make any representation on the subject he would consider it.