§ MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the potato crop in the west of Ireland has been a failure this year; and, in view of that failure, if he will state what steps the Irish Government intend to take to relieve the distress that is certain to ensue.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.I regret to say that the crop has partially failed in some parts of the west of Ireland, but the extent of the failure has not yet been ascertained, and until it is more fully known and the amount of the distress likely to arise can be foreseen, no statement on the subject can with advantage be made. Exceptional distress does not at this moment exist, and if any should unhappily arise (as I fear in some places it will) that can hardly be before the end of the present year. The Government have been giving, and will, of course, continuo to give, the closest attention to the matter, and they are considering the action proper to be taken.