§ MR. McKILLOP (Armagh, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether there is any particular reason why the sergeant of police at Poyntzpass is almost invariably a Protestant; and whether, since the principal ratepayers in the village are Catholics, he will consider the advisability of recommending that occasionally a Catholic sergeant should be appointed.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The sergeant at Poyntzpass station is a Protestant, but there is no rule that this should invariably be the case. The Inspector-General informs me that the sergeants of the Royal Irish Constabulary are distributed in the way best suitable to the needs of the different localities, and he does not think it desirable to give any pledge as regards appointments to any particular stations. There is no present intention of removing the sergeant now at Poyntzpass, who has given every satisfaction to his superior officers.