HC Deb 02 August 1905 vol 150 cc1344-5
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will lay upon the Table of the House any correspondence which has passed between the Treasury and the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland on the proposed withdrawal of the grant for the Irish language as an extra subject; and whether he will also lay upon the Table the Minutes of any meetings of the Board at which the subject was considered.

MR. WALTER LONG

The correspondence with the Treasury is of a Departmental and confidential character, and it would be contrary to the established practice to publish it. The Minutes of the Board contain detailed references to the Treasury correspondence, and for that reason I must decline to lay these Minutes on the Table.

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

Did the National Board, in coming to a decision, take steps to ensure that Irish would be taught as an ordinary subject in Irish schools?

MR. SPEAKEE

Obviously that does not arise out of the Question on the Paper.

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

suggested it arose out of the Question asking for the production of the Minutes.

MR. SPEAKER

I take a different view. That part of the Question has already been answered.