§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland (1) whether, as Chief Law Officer of the Crown in Ireland, intrusted with the carrying out of such measures as tend to preserve human life from destruction, he is satisfied that the Midland Great Western Railway Company of Ireland have fulfilled the obligations imposed on them by statute for the protection of human life in Longford, having regard to the frequent loss of life in the canal harbour there for want of proper railing and fencing: (2) whether he is aware that, at their ordinary monthly meeting on Tuesday week, the Longford Town Commissioners strongly condemned the action of the Midland Great Western Railway Company in leaving this harbour, in which little or no traffic is carried on, and situate in the middle of the Market Square, unfenced; and (3) whether he will call the attention of the Lord Lieutenant or Board of Control, or the Railway Commissioners, to this dangerous part of the Royal Canal, or, in the alternative, will he advise the Irish Government to grant a Commission to inquire into the manner in which the Midland Great Western Railway Company acquired this canal and have managed it since acquiring it?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.The first paragraph of the hon. Member's question is founded on a misconception of the duties of the Attorney General. The canal and harbour are, I believe, in the same unfenced condition they were in when acquired by the company in 1845, and the company contend that under the 8 & 9) Vict. c. 119, they are entitled to use these works as they are, and are not bound to fence them, but they inform me they have laid a case before counsel as to their liability in that respect, and further report that they 727 have always furnished quarterly reports to the Board of Trade and Board of Control of the various works which have been carried out to maintain the navigation in proper order. The attention of the Board of Trade and Board of Control will be called to the matter. I must decline to advise the Government to issue any Commission, and beg to remind the hon. Member that if the railway company are under any obligation to fence this harbour, an action will be against them at the suit of any person who sustains injury through the neglect of that duty.