MR. PATRICK. O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government intend to deal with the question of the equalisation of the municipal and the parliamentary franchise in Ireland in connection with the Local Government (Ireland) Bill, proposed to be introduced next Session?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURAs has already been said by the First Lord in inner to previous questions, the Government do not think it advisable to enter 1112 into any details with regard to the Bill of next Session. The hon. Gentleman will probably himself be in a position to judge how far it is possible to deal with the subject of local government without at the same time touching the question of the municipal franchise.
MR. T. M. HEALYsubsequently asked whether, in view of the statement of the Chief Secretary in regard to municipal franchise that franchise will apply to incorporate as well as corporate towns?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI think it would be very inexpedient to go into any details as to what it is proposed to introduce into our Bill of next year, and I think it is hardly a fair Question to put. We shall hope to make the scheme of the Government as complete as possible.