§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the strain upon the resources of the existing police establishment caused by the employment over lengthened periods of additional forces of police in several counties of Ireland, and the consequent depletion of the reserve force at the depot in Dublin and of a number of stations throughout the country, he is 1552 now in a position to hold out any hope that the Government will afford relief by a substantial increase of the establishment.
§ MR. CHERRYThe hon. Member may rest assured that the Government will take any steps which may become necessary for increasing the constabulary. As regards the suggestion that the reserve force at the depot has been depleted, I would remind the hon. Member that the very object with which that force was established was that it should be employed as occasion may require in aid of the ordinary constabulary force throughout the country. But in any case it is not the fact that the reserve force at the depot has been depleted, for a substantial portion of the force is still available at the depot.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Is not public opinion in Ireland in favour of a large reduction of the force?
§ [No Answer was returned.]