MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the charge of Chief Baron Pallas to the grand jury of Dublin on the 3rd instant, in which he calls attention to the increased charges for drunkenness in the city; whether he is aware of the police regulation which makes it necessary for the various superintendents of the police divisions to return the names of constables and sergeants who have less than five cases within a certain period; and whether the increase has been concurrent with the existence of this regulation; whether it is the practice of the police in England to arrest and prosecute for simple drunkenness; and whether the right of the police to do so in Ireland has been called in question and is at present occupying the attention of the authorities; and whether the police regulation which exists in Dublin forbidding the police to arrest persons under the influence of drink in charge of sober persons has been recently violated?
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. GERALD BALFOUR)I am still in communication with the Commissioner of Police relative to this question, and will ask the honourable Member to be good enough to repeat it to-morrow.