§ MR. J. DEVLIN (Belfast, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how often did the Commissioners for Charitable Donations and Bequests in Ireland meet during the twelve months preceding 23rd November, 1906, to consider applications under Section 2 of 30 and 31 Viet., c. 54, and business incidental thereto; how many such meetings were attended by each of the Commissioners; and whether the Commissioners are entitled to decline to state to applicants any ground for their refusal to give an opinion or advise.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners inform me that during the twelve months preceding 23rd November, 1906, they considered applications under the section quoted at five of their ordinary meetings. The Commissioners do not consider that any useful public purpose would be served by publishing the names of the particular members of their body who were present at these meetings. The Commissioners hold that the statute which governs their proceedings casts no obligation upon them to state the grounds of their refusal to give an opinion or advice.