MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that steerage passengers landing from British bound American liners at Queenstown are cross-examined by the Royal Irish Constabulary as to their names, occupations, American addresses, destinations in Ireland, length of their proposed stay, the names of those they are going to visit, address, etc., and that passengers embarking at Queenstown are obliged to show their tickets to detective officers going on board; whether he is aware that this practice is generally complained of by tourists, and is seriously injuring the Irish tourist traffic because, in consequence of it, tourists prefer to land in and embark from British ports; and whether he will confine this action of the police to persons whom they may reasonably suspect of the commission of crime or intention to commit crime?
§ *MR. GERALD BALFOURIt is the practice of the police to invite passengers at Queenstown to give their names and places of destination, and passengers have cordially co-operated with the police in giving this information. It is not the fact, however, that passengers are interrogated as to the other particulars mentioned in the Question, nor is it true that passengers embarking at Queenstown are required to show their tickets to detective officers. When, however, the police have reason to believe that a particular passenger is 870 an absconding criminal or a fugitive from justice, such person would no doubt be asked to exhibit his ticket. No complaints have been made to the police on the subject, nor is there any ground whatever for the suggestion that the tourist traffic has been injured in consequence of the police inquiries which I have indicated.