§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many English and how many Scotch people are employed in Ireland by the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, and what is the gross amount of salary paid to them; and whether, in the making of future appointments, the Department will take into consideration the claims of Irish candidates to employment in their own country.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALTER LONG, Bristol, S.)The Department have no record of the nationality of the members of their staff. In making appointments the Department endeavours to secure the services of those who, in their opinion, are best qualified for the discharge of the particular work required.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Will the right hon. Gentleman, in answering a Question of this kind, try to give us facts. It is scarcely respectful to answer the Question in the way he has done. Everybody knows the nationality of these men.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI gave the Answer in precisely the same form as I should have done had it been addressed to me at the Local Government Board Office. I said the Department have no records. That is the case.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWho was that Answer prepared by, was it by Sir Horace Plunkett, who ought either to be in this House to answer Questions or to resign. It is a fallacious Answer. [Cries of "Order."] Yes, it is fallacious.
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not entitled to comment on the Answer.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI am commenting, Sir, on the conduct of those who by calling me to order are seeking to usurp your position.