MR. MTADDEN (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the judge of the King's Bench in Ireland in the case of Halpin v. Rice, and to the observation of the Lord Chief Justice as to the difference in the law affecting persons in England and Ireland on application before the magistrates for sureties to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, and if, in view of the opinion of the judge that persons in Ireland called upon to give sureties to be of good behaviour have a grievance in being precluded from giving evidence on their behalf, he will introduce a Bill assimilating the law on the subject in both countries.
§ MR. FLYNNAt the same time may I ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, in reference to the judgment in the King's Bench on the 2Gth ult. in the case of Deputy-Inspector H. Rice, Royal Irish Constabulary, v. Halpin, and in connection with his promise to bring in legislation with a view to carry into effect the recommendation of the learned judges, whether he will undertake to introduce a Bill before Easter.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.In answer to the question of the hon. Member for East Donegal, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question put to me on Friday last, when I stated that if the Members for Ireland would be good enough to give me an assurance that they would facilitate the assimilation of the law in the two countries in this respect I would forthwith introduce a short Bill for the purpose. The hon. Member for North Cork asks me if I will introduce the Bill before 391 Easter. I can only repeat that, provided I receive the assurance I have asked for, the Bill will at once be introduced.
§ MR. ATKINSONI have said that the Bill will assimilate the law in the two countries.