MR. J. P. FAERELL (Longford, N.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will state the grounds upon which it was decided to stop the sum of £5 odd out of the agricultural grant to county Longford in respect of charges for extra police in Longford in October, 1902; whether he is aware that no requisition for extra police had been made on this occasion; and, if so, will he say why, although such requisition had not been made, the extra police were drafted in.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON, Londonderry, N.)The county council declined to make payment of this sum, which was due to the Crown under the authority of the Constabulary Acts. The amount was accordingly deducted from moneys payable to the county council out of the Local Taxation Account, in pursuance of Section 80, Sub-section 2, of the Local Government Act, 1898. The extra force was requisitioned by the county inspector in the ordinary manner and was approved by Government.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the district inspector denies requisitioning the police, as they were not required.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe contrary is, I believe, the fact. He says he did.