HC Deb 22 March 1904 vol 132 cc397-9
MR. NANNETTI

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the negotiations between the Government and the Great Southern Railway Company for the taking over of the Tralee and Dingle Railway, any steps have been taken by the Government to safeguard the interests of the traders and travelling public by having, with places on the Tralee and Dingle Railway, a full and complete list of through rates and fares and suitable train service via the various ports of Ireland; whether, in view of the agreement between the. Great Southern and Western Railway and the Great Western Railway of England to support the route via Milford, he will take steps to secure for the other various ports in Ireland that offer better and more expeditious services to traders that they should be placed on an equal footing, at least, with this company, more particularly as the Great Southern and Western Railway Company are not carrying out the obligations entered into under the Amalgamation Bill.

MR. WYNDHAM

I am not at present in a position to make any announcement on the first part of the Question, In reply to the latter part of the Question, the Amalgamation Act of 1900 contains numerous provisions for the protection of the interests of various Irish ports, such as Dublin, Waterford, Cork, and Limerick, as well as the interests of other places and districts. The Act contains, moreover, specific provisions for the settlement by arbitration of disputes arising in respect of the failure of the company to carry out its obligations. Under these latter provisions it is open to those affected injuriously to make application to the Board of Trade with a view to the determination of the matter in dispute by an Arbitrator to be appointed by that Department.

MR. NANNETTI

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the agreement between the Government and the Great Southern and Western Railway?

MR. WYNDHAM

There is no agreement. The matter has not yet reached that stage.

MR. NANNETTI

What I ask is that before the negotiations are closed between the Great Southern and Western Railway and the Government, in which a certain sum out of the Development Grant is to handed over to the railway company, will a copy of the agreement between the company and the Government be laid upon the Table of the House?

SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)

Will an opportunity tie afforded for discussing this question?

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, and as this is a matter that concerns my constituency, I would like to ask what are the conditions under which the line is to be given to the Great Southern and Western Railway Company?

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

I hope the right hon. Gentleman will answer that, and that he will be able to say that, after the expression of opinion he heard the other night, he abandons the idea altogether of giving the money to the Great Southern.

MR. WYNDHAM

I would rather not re-open the matter now. There is no agreement between the Government and the railway. If there was such an agreement I would be glad to give hon. Members an opportunity of seeing it.

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

I hope the right hon. Gentleman has not abandoned the idea of getting this railway taken over by the Great Southern.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The Question cannot be debated.

MR. NANNETTI

Before this sum of £20,000 out of the Development Grant is handed over to the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, will the right hon. Gentleman give Irish Members an opportunity of discussing the question?

MR. WYNDHAM

We have already had a long debate on the Development Grant. I then stated a new Estimate was to be brought in, when another opportunity for discussion would arise.

MR. NANNETTI

I take it the question is not yet finally settled?

[No answer was returned.]