§ MR. SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on how many occasions during the last nine months extra police have been drafted into the town of Tallow, county Waterford; how many extra police have been employed on each occasion; and what is the total cost of such extra police chargeable to the county Waterford in respect of that period; and whether, seeing that the town of Tallow is in a peaceful and orderly state, will he explain what are the circumstances under which it was considered necessary to detail such extra police, and who made the requisition for or directed their employment.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)An extra force of police has been drafted into Tallow on ten occasions during the past nine months, the number of additional constables employed on each of these occasions varying from ten to eighty-three. The total cost of the extra force so employed and chargeable to the county Waterford will be nearly £4. The police were employed for the preservation of the public peace on the occasion of meetings convened under the auspices of the United Irish League, and were requisitioned by the authorities locally responsible for the maintenance of the peace.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork)Was there any real ground for calling in extra police? Is it seriously contended any breach of the public peace was contemplated?
§ MR. ATKINSONThe persons locally responsible for the maintenance of the peace thought there were serious grounds 1379 for fearing a breach, and the fact that no breach occurred was probably due to the presence of the police.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Who is the person responsible?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The question has been fully answered.