HC Deb 24 May 1900 vol 83 cc1123-4
MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the New Ross District Council relative to empowering county and district councils to work Irish coal mines; and whether the Board of Agriculture and Industry would be prepared to lend money to the councils for that purpose.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

My attention has been drawn to the resolution referred to, which is in the following-terms— To request Her Majesty's Government to introduce into Parliament a short Bill to enable the county and district councils of Ireland to work Irish coal mines, and to compel railway companies to construct light branch lines to such mines with a view of affording facilities for working them. I think comment on this resolution is unnecessary. The Department of Agri- culture and Technical Instruction has no power to act as suggested in the last part of the question.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a Select Committee, presided over by a member of the Government, recommended some ten years ago that the railway companies-should be compelled to make these lines?

[No answer was given.]