HC Deb 28 February 1899 vol 67 cc786-7
MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many constables and sergeants of the Mounted Royal Irish Constabulary who reverted to infantry have been remounted since the late reduction; whether he can say why competitive examinations were not held for the recent vacancy for the post of head constable; how many of the 27 constables who went to Dublin at their own expense for examination in 1895 have been promoted; whether there was a Section in the former Constabulary Code by which men were dismounted when they attained the age of 45 years; and, whether he can state if this rule has been adhered to, and, if not, can he state why?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD W. BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central

Two sergeants and 14 constables have been remounted since the late reduction. There is no rule of the service requiring that vacancies in the rank of mounted head constable should be filled by competition. Of the 27 constables examined in 1895, five have been promoted. As regards the fourth and fifth paragraphs, there was a rule under which mounted men were dismounted when they attained the age of 45 years, but it was cancelled in 1883. The rule was withdrawn as a consequence of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry in 1882.