§ MR. CLANCYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any instructions have been given to the architects to provide for the use of Irish materials in the construction of the new College of Science in Dublin; whether, if such instructions have been issued, it has been intimated therein, or in any other document, by those in authority, that full opportunity of tendering should be given to all Irish quarry owners; and, in view of the fact that Portland stone used only a few years ago in parts of the museum buildings in Dublin has weathered badly, and has already shown symptons of premature decay, any precaution has been taken against the use of that material in the proposed building in the same locality.
§ MR. VICTOR CAVENDISHI do not consider it will be advisable to place restrictions upon the contractor as to the source of his supply of materials, but the utmost care will be taken that whatever stone is selected shall be of the best quality.
‡See (4) Debates, cxlii., 27.
§ MR. CLANCYThen am I to understand that the promise made last year that Irish materials should be used as far as possible is to be broken?
§ MR. VICTOR CAVENDISHNo, Sir.