CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any arrangements have been made or negotiations entered into with a view to creating Maynooth a constituent college of the new Dublin University, or for the affiliation of Maynooth with it.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Answer is in the negative.
CAPTAIN CRAIGWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent the inclusion of Maynooth College under his scheme?
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Could not this Question be asked and answered in the Standing Committee upstairs where it was discussed for many hours of the day?
§ MR. BIRRELLYes.
§ MR. BIRRELLI will answer the Question upstairs.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER,subsequently referring to this reply, appealed to the Speaker to decide whether it was for a Minister to say that a Question which could be answered in Committee upstairs need not be answered in the House. He pointed out that four-fifths of the Members of the House were not members of the Committee, and asked for a ruling from the Chair as to whether the course which had been taken would be held to constitute a precedent.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe Answer to the Question was given in the negative. The hon. and gallant Member asked a further Question which the right hon. Gentleman said he would be glad to discuss upstairs.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIs it an obligation on any Minister to answer any Question if he regards it as vexatious or frivolous?
§ MR. SPEAKERThere is no method of compelling him.