§ DR. AMBROSE (Mayo, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether with regard to the contemplated construction under the Marine Works (Ireland) Act, 1902, of a harbour at Innishlyre, county Mayo, he is aware that his predecessor in office consulted his brother, the hon. Member for Inverness Burghs, as to the relative merits of such a harbour as against the construction of a railway from Mallaranny, county Mayo, to Belmullet; that the latter advised his brother, the ex-Chief 445 Secretary, to abandon the proposed Innishlyre harbour and construct the railway from Mallaranny to Belmullet; and that the hon. Member for Inverness Burghs informed the late hon. Member for West Mayo of such an arrangement and assured him that the line would be made; could he say whether any minute or record to that effect has been left by the late Chief Secretary at the Irish Office; and would he give a statement of the negotiations carried on by the late Chief Secretary with regard to such harbour and railway line.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have no information as to any communications on the subjects mentioned in the Question that may have passed between my predecessor in office and the hon. Member for the Inverness Burghs. The Government have still under consideration the question of communications in North-West Mayo, but no statement can be made at present.