HC Deb 01 July 1897 vol 50 cc873-4
MR. DILLON

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury (1) whether his attention has been directed to the pronouncement of the Archbishops and Bishops on the subject of Catholic University education in Ireland; and (2) whether, in view of the statements contained in that pronouncement, he is now in a position to inform the House when the Government will introduce a Bill dealing with the Irish University question?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E

As regards the second paragraph of the hon. Gentleman's Question, I have not—as he may probably have anticipated—anything to add to the answer I gave him, and, I think, another hon. Member, on the some subject earlier in the Session. With reference to the first paragraph, my attention has been directed to the pronouncement of the Archbishops and Bishops. I fully recognise the conciliatory spirit which animates those prelates, mid the importance of the pronouncement they have made.

MR. DILLON

I must confess that I did not anticipate the nature of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, and I am very much disappointed by it. [Ministerial cries of "Order, order!"] I am going to ask a question—namely, whether, in view of the right hon. Gentleman's statement at the commencement of this Session, and of the way in which that statement has been met by the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland, he cannot now give us some definite pledge as to when a Bill will be introduced on this subject, which is now practically a non-contentious one?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

It is clear that the hon. Gentleman is wrong in thinking that the subject is a non-contentious one; but, quite apart from that, I think he must feel that my answer is a perfectly reasonable one, and absolutely consistent with everything I have said, either in speeches or in answer to questions in this Session or in any other.

MR. DILLON

In consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, which I do not consider at all reasonable —[cries of "Order!"]—I beg to give notice that I shall raise the question on the Estimates.