MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of the rank and file of the Royal Irish Constabulary who have been fined for breaches of discipline while serving in County Limerick by the Inspector General, and the number of those fined by the County Inspector, respectively, from the 1st June, 1896, to the 31st May, 1899, and from the 1st June, 1893, to the 31st May, 1896; the number of men disrated; the number of men punished by unfavourable records; and the number of courts of inquiry held for same periods respectively.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThere are reasons in the interests of the public service for not answering this question, and I will ask the hon and learned Member not to press it.