§ ME. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that a complaint as to a delay in the transit of butter, made by a Limerick merchant, on November 14th last, to the Irish Department of Agriculture was not answered until the 7th of this month; will he inquire into the cause of the delay, and take measures to prevent a recurrence of such delay in future.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe complaint referred to was made to the Department on November 14th, and on the following day the Irish railway company concerned was communicated with. The Department was not placed in possession of the final information given by the English companies until the third instant, and on the 7th the result of the inquiry was communicated to the complainant. The Department are, therefore, in no way responsible for any delay that may have occurred.