§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what were the precise conditions of service and pay offered through the Irish Government to the 995 Royal Irish Constabulary candidates in December, 1896, to induce them to join the Army; were the proposals conveyed to the candidates, and how many of them were found willing to 1649 accept service in the Army; and, if they were not conveyed to the candidates, upon what grounds did the Irish Government disapprove of the Military authorities' efforts to induce the men to join the Army?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe nature of the proposal made by the War Office in the Irish Government was explained by my right hon. Friend the Under Secretary for War when replying to the hon. Member's Question of Tuesday last. The Irish Government are not aware what conditions (if any) as to service and pay were conveyed to the constabulary candidates, or whether any of the men were found willing to enter the Army. It has already been stated that the proposal of the War Office was not accepted by the Irish Government, and I do not feel myself called upon to supplement that statement.