§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that firearms are being sold freely in the West of Ireland on the instalment plan; and whether, having regard to the fact that outrages with firearms have been quadrupled since the dropping of the Peace Preservation Act, he will introduce legislation immediately to deal with this evil.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe inspector-general of the Royal Irish Constabulary has received no official information that arms are being sold in Ireland on the instalment plan, and he is not aware of any means by which precise information on the subject could be obtained. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the similar Question asked by the hon. 1419 and gallant Member for East Down on 29th October.
§ MR. LONSDALEIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that statements to the effect given in the Question have appeared in most of the Irish newspapers?
§ MR. BIRRELLNo, I am not aware of it.