§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the only Roman Catholic constable in county Down advanced within twelve 1591 months to the rank of acting-sergeant occupied a secretarial position in the office of the county inspector; and whether, as the proportion of promotions of non-Catholic constables has been six to one in a county in which Roman Catholic constables outnumber those of all other denominations, he will undertake that future recommendations for promotion in. that county will be scrutinised so as to ensure that the religion of which the majority of the Royal Irish Constabulary are adherents will not he a barrier to preferment.
§ MR. WYNDHAMRecommendations for promotion in the constabulary do not come before me, but I am assured by the Inspector General that such promotions are strictly governed by considerations of merit and not of religion