HC Deb 31 March 1898 vol 55 cc1482-3
MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland can he lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence sent to him by the Belfast city coroner, in December, 1897, in relation to inquests held upon the remains of persons found drowned in the York Dock, Belfast, and the right hon. Gentleman's replies thereto; and will he take steps to have inserted in the Local Government Bill, now before Parliament, a clause providing for the protection of life at dangerous points along the Belfast Harbour, and in a particular manner at such points on the York and Clarendon Docks?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

The Government have called the attention of the Harbour Commissioners to the alleged unprotected state of the docks at the place mentioned, and the matter will be considered by the Commissioners at their next meeting. It is not considered necessary to lay the correspondence on the Table. A matter of this character could not be properly dealt with in the Local Government Bill.

MR. MACALEESE

What is the reason for not laying the correspondence on the Table of the House?

MR. ATKINSON

It is not of the character usually laid.