§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the intention of the Government in withdrawing ancient Irish manuscripts publication from the Master of the Rolls series was to secure effective editing under the responsible supervision of the Royal Irish Academy; whether the effect has been to reduce the sums made available by the Treasury for such translations; and will he ascertain how soon the translation of "Tigernach," to which scholars attach much value, will be put in hand.
(Answered by Mr. Arthur Elliot.) The hon. Member is, I think, under some misapprehension. There has been no transfer of the publication of ancient 110 Irish manuscripts from the Master of the Rolls series to the Royal Irish Academy. Ancient Celtic manuscripts (with the exception of the Ancient Laws of Ireland including the Brehon Laws which are published by a special commission) are produced under the direction of the Royal Irish Academy, which has long been specially concerned with this work, and which has received in addition to its grant various sums for the publication of the "Annals of Ulster." I am sorry to find that the Royal Irish Academy are disinclined, with their present means, to undertake the translation of the "Annals of Tigernach."