§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return showing the powers of the eight Departments
†For the year ending 31st December, 1906.1087 specified in Clause 2, subsection (2) (a), which are to be transferred to the control of the council under the Irish Council Bill; also showing the powers of the authorities specified in the third schedule to the same Bill.(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The powers and duties of the Departments and authorities referred to are set forth in various statutes, the interpretation of which rests in the last resort with Courts of Law. I do not think it desirable that I should undertake to lay a Return purporting to give an authoritative statement of these powers and duties.