§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings of the Dublin Corporation on the 11th of last month, when they unanimously adopted Report No. 58 of a Committee of the Whole House, dated 30th March, which met to investigate the conduct of Councillor Anthony Madden, High Sheriff of the city of Dublin, and Councillor Thomas O'Reilly, Deputy Chairman of the Licensed Vintners Dublin Association; whether he is aware that Madden and O'Reilly, acting in collusion, appointed a partner of Maddens named Thomas Murphy, afterwards changed on the minutes of the Improvements Committee to James Murphy, to carry out the work previously done by a Mrs. Malone, and that a sum of £7 15s. had been paid to Murphy before the irregularity of the proceeding had been discovered by the corporate officials; and will he say whether any steps will be taken to remove Councillor Madden, who was chairman of the Paving Committee, from the office of High Sheriff of the city.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I have no information concerning the proceedings of the Dublin Corporation in this matter beyond that which may be obtained from the newspaper reports. According to those reports it would appear that the Corporation have taken all steps which may be necessary in the matter, and I am not aware that there are any grounds for taking the action suggested in the latter part of the Question.