§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, since it appears that a number of Catholic gentlemen in the veterinary branch of the Irish Agricultural Department are restricted to practically stationary salaries of £95 a year, while increases of salary have been granted to certain other officials, he will state what steps he proposes taking in order to secure that any economy effected in the remuneration of the Catholic officials shall not be availed of to increase further the salaries of higher paid officials.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThis Question repeats an insinuation which, as has been repeatedly pointed out, is entirely unjustifiable. I have nothing to add to the replies already given, except to say that the officials in the veterinary branch are on the scale of salary fixed for the grade to which they belong, and that their salaries are not stationary.
§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these clerks will not reach their maximum for twenty-five years?
§ MR. O'KELLY (Mayo, N.)Has the right hon. Gentleman any objection to granting an inquiry into the alleged grievances of these clerks?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI see no reason why an inquiry should be granted.