§ MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, is he aware that in the Belfast Royal Irish Constabulary there are two promotion, lists, a public and a private list; can he state how many Roman Catholic and how many Protestant constables respectively, of over 15 years' service, are on the public 476 promotion list who have been refused recommendation by their officers for the private list; how is it that constables who are qualified for the public list are not considered suitable for advancement unless they obtain a recommendation from their officers; and can he explain the disparity which exists between the promotion of Protestants as compared with Roman Catholics; is he aware that out of 30 promotions made in 1897–8 only nine of that number were Roman Catholics, the remaining 21 being either Protestants or Presbyterians; will he state if equal facilities are offered to each man on the promotion list in Belfast to advance himself; and will the men in future be informed when they have completed 20 years' service whether they need look forward for promotion?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThere are two constabulary promotion lists in Belfast—one an annual or general list, which, however, is in no sense a public list; and the other a quarterly one. Similar lists are in use in every county throughout Ireland. The number of men with more than 15 years' service in Belfast, who are on the annual but not on the quarterly list, is 79, of whom 37 are Roman Catholics. No man is considered suitable for advancement unless he is recommended by his officers. Of the promotions made in Belfast in the quarter ended 30th June, five were Roman Catholics, and seven Protestants. Of the 30 promotions made in the period mentioned in the fourth paragraph, nine were Roman Catholics, eight Presbyterians, and 13 Episcopalian and other Protestants. The reply to the fifth paragraph is in the affirmative. The question of religion does not enter into consideration in deciding upon a man's qualifications for promotion. A constable of 20 years' service and over is not debarred from promotion, provided he is considered by his officers qualified for advancement.
Mr. T. M. HEALYIf religion is not an element to be taken into consideration, and as there are far more Catholics than Protestants in the force, how is it that the proportion of Protestants promoted is so much greater—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!