§ MR. M'CARTANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state if any circular has been sent to the officers or men of the Royal Irish Constabulary, encouraging or discouraging prosecutions for riding bicycles on footpaths in Ireland; whether the circular was issued with the sanction of the Government, and under what authority was the legal practice altered or modified; and whether a copy of the circular will be circulated among the Members of this House?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOUROn the 11th November last the Inspector-General, with my approval, issued to the Constabulary a circular informing them
That except in cases of obstruction, or imminence of obstruction, it is not necessary for them to prosecute for cycling on the footpath.Before the issue of the circular it was the practice of the Constabulary to prosecute for cycling on the footpath even in cases where there was no obstruction, either actual or imminent; but, in deference to the strongly-expressed wishes of Magistrates and others that proceedings should not be instituted in such cases, it was decided, as a tentative measure, to issue instructions to the effect stated. The circular does not in any way alter, or purport to alter, the law. I had already, before this Question was placed on the Paper, called for a report from the Inspector-General as to the operation of the circular, and on receipt of this report I will consider whether the circular, Originally issued as an experiment, should 1056 be allowed to remain in force. Having quoted the terms of the circular I do not see that any useful purpose would be served by laying it on the Table of the House.