§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the Address of Judge O'Connor Morris to the Sligo Grand Jury, on the 24th instant, in the course of which the Government as well as the United Irish League were censured for their encouragement of agrarian agitation in the West; and, seeing that the Grand Jury, composed of fifteen Unionists and five Nationlists, unanimously adopted a resolution dissenting from his Honour's observations, and advocating compulsory land purchase, whether any steps can be taken in the matter.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have seen a newspaper report of the observations of the learned Judge on the occasion referred to. The Government has on many occasions repudiated the policy of compulsory purchase, and to that repudiation it adheres.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDWill the Irish Government take any steps to prevent political harangues being delivered from the bench?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Irish Government never criticises any remarks made by Irish Judges.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDBut will the Government take action to prevent a course unknown in England of the judges 1343 delivering political speeches from the bench?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI repeat that the Irish Government never takes action in respect of the speeches or addresses made by judges. The only course is to proceed against the judge by Addresses in both Houses of Parliament.
§ * MR. SPEAKERintimated that notice must be given of any further Question.