MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, as representing the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether, in view of the fact that on St. Patrick's Day last Irish flags were flying from Windsor Castle, Dublin Castle, London Mansion House, and the municipal buildings of Liverpool and other provincial English cities and towns, the Irish Government will now permit Irish County Councils to hoist the Irish National flag on Irish courthouses used by them as their places of meeting for the discharge of public business.
§ MR. ATKINSONI am not aware whether flags were erected or not on all the buildings mentioned, or whether the flags erected were similar to those proposed to be erected on Irish Court-houses. It is a matter in each case for the consideration of the high sheriffs, who generally have determined, in my opinion wisely, that it, was undesirable that Court-houses, primarily erected for the purposes of the administration of justice, should 1323 be associated with political or party displays of any kind or character.
§ MR. ATKINSONI do not know what flags were used.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)Were the Court-houses built at the expense of the high sheriffs or of the ratepayers of the county?
§ [No answer was given.]