HC Deb 20 March 1899 vol 68 cc1312-3
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

On behalf of the honourable Member for East Cavan I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of sergeants and acting sergeants of the Roman Catholic religion stationed in county Antrim in April 1894, when County Inspector Lennon took charge of the county; the number of Roman Catholic sergeants who retired in the county from then until the death of County Inspector Lennon in 1897; the number of Roman Catholic constables promoted from the seniority list during the same period; the number of Protestants promoted from the same list during the same period; and the number of Roman Catholic constables; will he explain why, since County Inspector Scott took charge of Antrim there have been promoted from the seniority list four Protestants and only one Roman Catholic, and also why members of the Constabulary force in the same county and in the same list, who happen to be Roman Catholics, have been overlooked; and whether similar treatment has been given to Roman Catholics in the county Down branch of the force?

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

The number of Roman Catholic sergeants and acting sergeants in the county Antrim in April 1894, was 31. The number of Protestant sergeants and acting sergeants was also 31. The number of Roman Catholic sergeants who retired from April 1894, to January 1897, was 9. The number of Roman Catholic and Protestant constables promoted from the seniority list during the same period was three and six respectively. The number of Roman Catholic constables at present in Antrim is 104. As regards the second paragraph, one Roman Catholic and three Protestant constables have been promoted from the seniority list since Mr. Scott took charge of the county. Promotions are not made with reference to religious considerations, and the claims of all deserving constables for advancement are considered quite irrespective of their religious views. Nor can seniority be regarded as the only, or even the chief qualification for promotion. The general principles upon which promotion is regulated in Down are the same as those existing in other counties.