§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord 932 Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a petition was presented to the magistrates at Sneem (County Kerry) Petty Sessions in May, 1899, praying for the removal of extra police stationed in that sub-district; whether he has seen the copy of the memorial which was sent to him, signed by the local Catholic and Protestant ministers as well as others; and whether, as the magistrates in attendance approved of the petition owing to the peaceable condition of the district, any and what steps have since been taken by the Government to remove from the Sneem district the extra force of police stationed therein.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)The reply to the first and second paragraphs is in the affirmative. There are no extra police at Sneem chargeable to the district. It is true there is a small force stationed there, but their employment involves no expense whatever upon the ratepayers, and it is not proposed to remove the police from the locality.