§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen. S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether His Majesty's Government, in case they should advise His Majesty to issue a Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon the questions connected with university education in Ireland, will so frame the terms of reference to the Commissioners as to enable them to inquire into the present arrangements of Trinity College, Dublin, and to report whether any and what changes can be made in those arrangements which would induce persons not members of the Protestant Episcopal Church to resort more freely to Trinity College and make it more attractive to them.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A.J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.No, Sir; I should be reluctant to increase the controversial difficulties of a very difficult and controversial subject by including Trinity College within the scope of such an inquiry.
§ MR. BRYCEMill the right hon. Gentleman before coming to a final decision consider the effect on the value of the findings of the Commission which such an exclusion would involve?
§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)Will the First Lord of the Treasury state when the debate on the question of a Roman Catholic University for Ireland will be taken?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe debate on the question that the Speaker leave the Chair will come on immediately after the Budget, and, if the necessary resolutions are obtained on Thursday, the 18th, I should move the Speaker out of the Chair on Friday, the 19th. If it is necessary to take more than one day for the necessary work of the earlier stages of the Budget, then on the Monday following L should move the Speaker out of the Chair.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Will the right hon, Gentleman consider the desirableness of not finally settling the terms of reference on the subject of university education in Ireland before that debate takes place?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI will consider the propriety of that suggestion.