§ MR. MOONEY (Newry)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland), Sir Horace Plunket, is to be the Parliamentary candidate for North Tyrone in the event of a vacancy arising; can he state whether the present Vice-President is qualified for election to Parliament; and, if so, what stops it is intended to take in the event of a member of the Government standing as a Unionist.
MR. BRYCESir Horace Plunket is at this moment in the middle of the wide Atlantic, and unapproachable except possibly by the Marconi system, and I cannot invite his opinion on the matters raised in the Question. But it would have been superfluous to do so, for I can imagine nothing more improbable than that he should think of becoming a candidate for a seat in Parliament so long as he remains in his present post, nor indeed could he properly do so having regard to the fact that, as will be seen by reference to an Answer given by mo in this House 367 on 21st February,†he wrote to me that he should, during his continuance in office, consider himself debarred from taking any part in political controversy.
§ MR. MOONEYDoes a letter written by an official of the Government over-ride an Act of Parliament?
§ MR. DILLONBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies I would like to ask him whether Sir Horace Plunket sent that letter to the Government himself or whether he was invited by them to send it, and further whether he has any ground for believing that Sir Horace Plunket has altered his political opinions since he was in this House as a representative for South Dublin or since as a Unionist he contested Galway, and what ground he has for believing that Sir Horace Plunket is not as well qualified now as he was six or seven years ago to stand for a constituency.
MR. BRYCEThis Question does not appear to me to be quite relevant. As regards the Question on the Paper I think everybody will agree that a man who has taken this action solemnly debars himself. As regards the Question put by the hon. Member for East Mayo, I do not know anything of Sir Horace Plunket's opinions or changes of opinion. The Question put to me is, Is he likely to stand as a candidate? and my answer is that I do not think he can.
§ MR. DILLONDid Sir Horace Plunket write that letter of his own motion or was it made a condition of his re-appointment? Is not Sir Horace Plunket at this moment under the Act of Parliament a member of the present Government by legal statute.
MR. BRYCENo, Sir, I do not think he can be called practically a member of; the Government. I do not think he is a member of the Government. I regard him as at present in the position of a temporary official. I asked him to retain the office for reasons which I have fully stated to the House. As regards the letter it was written as embodying the arrangement made between the Government and Sir Horace Plunket, and it was part of that that he should consider himself entirely outside politics.
†See (4) Debates, clii., 352–355.
§ MR. MOONEYIf, in view of the statement that he only holds this position temporarily until the Commission should have finished its sittings, will the right hon. Gentleman now consider the advisability, seeing that the Commission is finished, of appointing a permanent Vice-President, and also whether there is any precedent for a Liberal Government appointing a Unionist as vice-President?
§ MR. MOONEYdesired to ask whether Sir Horace Plunket was not an official holding office by virtue of a statute and whether by a private letter he could debar himself from sitting in the House which was part of the statutory obligation.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLDoes not the right hon. Gentleman know that under the section of the Act the appointment is considered a Parliamentary appointment, and that the holder of the office is bound to expound from the Treasury Bench the policy of the Department?
MR. BRYCEThe whole House knows perfectly well what the statute is. But I think Sir Horace Plunket's personal engagement to the Government debars him. He has given a most specific undertaking. I did not say that the provisional arrangement will come to an end as soon as the Commission has finished taking evidence. I said when the Commission reported. Before we make any future arrangements for the Department it will clearly be necessary to wait for that Report.
§ MR. MOONEYIf, as alleged, Sir Horace Plunket is able to get over the duties conferred upon him by statute, is it the intention of the Government to make him a permanent civil servant?
MR. BRYCENo, Sir, I have never said anything of the kind. The whole matter will be reserved until the Commission reports.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL rose to ask another Question.
§ *Mr. SPEAKER (interrupting)The Question is beginning to assume the form of a debate. I do not want to interrupt, but it is only fair to other Members who have Questions on the Paper that I should now intervene.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)Put Sir Horace Plunket into the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill.