§ MR. MULDOON (Wicklow, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Board of Works in Ireland have inspected and reported upon the condition of Greystones Harbour; whether the piers are in a most dangerous condition; and what steps it is proposed to take to remedy the defects.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HOBHOUSE,) Bristol E.I beg to refer the hon. Member to the replies given to Questions on this subject on 11th March, 1907, and 5th December, 1906, to which I have nothing to add.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWill the hon. Gentleman be kind enough to direct attention to this harbour? Seeing that this is one of the most flourishing resorts in Ireland, cannot he stretch a point and put the harbour—which is now an absolute ruin—in proper repair.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEmade no Answer.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI think I might have a reply. It generally saves a lot of time to answer my Questions.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEIt is not an easy matter always to answer on the spur of the moment. I was looking through previous Answers. A Committee which inquired into this matter wished its engineer to prepare a scheme for the improvement of the harbour, with a view to getting a free grant from the Government. But I am afraid we are not in a position to give one, there are so many who desire free grants.
§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)You will not give us a loan, much less a free grant.