§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN () KilkennyI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is yet in a position to name the Members of the Royal Commission on Irish University Education.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg also to ask the First Lord of the Treasury when he can give the House any information as to the composition or appointment of the Royal Commission on University Education in Ireland.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I am sorry that it has been impossible 1130 to make sufficient progress with the appointment of this Commission to enable me to make a statement to the House. One of the reasons for the delay is the large number of Commissioners, Englishmen and Scotchmen, who have been asked to serve, and it would be unfair to expect such persons engaged in education to take evidence in Ireland after the beginning of the next academic term. We are most anxious to get on with the Commission.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThat answer forebodes a long inquiry. How soon does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be able to give us the names?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUROne of the difficulties arises from the fact that an invitation is sent to a gentleman and he finds he is not able to attend. Then the invitation is sent to someone else, and in such circumstances delays are inevitable.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENasked from whom refusals had been received.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think I can answer such a question as that.