§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Irish emigration to America continues upon an extensive scale, and has considerably increased this year as compared with the same period last year; and whether it is intended to take any steps to revive Irish industries with a view to provide Irish workers with employment in their own country.
§ *MR. G. W. BALFOURIt is the fact that the number of emigrants from Ireland to the United States during the past five months is larger than the number in the corresponding period of 1898, in which year, however, the number of Irish emigrants was smaller than for many years back. But the number of emigrants from Ireland to the United States and other countries during the past five months is considerably less than the average numbers for the corresponding period in the ten years 1889 to 1898.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANWill the right hon. Gentleman appoint a Committee to inquire into the causes of this steady 650 drain of the Irish population to foreign countries?
§ *MR. G. W. BALFOURI da not think there is any occasion for such a Committee. As far as I am able to judge, the number of emigrants from Ireland to America depends much mare upon the state of trade in America than on any other cause.