MR. MCNEILL (Donegal, South)I beg to ask the Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the observations of Mr. Justice Boyd, on Friday last, in which he commented strongly on the difference between the laws of England and Ireland, in the matter and the priority of Crown debts in bankruptcy matters, and stated that he was coerced to hold that a Crown debt in Ireland was payable in priority to all other debts, whether mentioned in the Schedule or not, whereas in England there was no such priority. And (2) whether the Government will, by legislation, in the immediate future, rectify this system by which the Crown can recover debts in Ireland which, in similar circumstances in England would be postponed to the payment of the debts of secured creditors?
*THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Londonderry, N.)My attention has been drawn to the observations of Mr. Justice Boyd on the occasion referred to, which are substantially to the effect mentioned in the first paragraph. The matter is receiving the consideration of the Government, but no statement can be made on the question raised by the second paragraph without further and fuller inquiry.