§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can explain the cause of the delay on the part of the Intermediate Board in issuing a list of the book-prize winners; and can he state when the results will be published?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)This question, with others on the same subject, will be submitted to the Commissioners of Intermediate Education at their next Boards meeting on the 22nd instant.
§ Mr. BOLANDCould not this question be answered by the secretary to the Intermediate Board? Are we to understand that the whole machinery of that Board is thrown out of gear between meetings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know how that may be. The answer given me is that the question will be submitted to the Board at their next meeting. They may attach more importance to it than the hon. Member does.
§ Mr. BOLANDBut there are a sufficient number of Members of the Board living in Dublin to form a quorum for a meeting at any time. Could not the right hon. Gentleman arrange to have special meetings called to deal with these cases of public interest?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot say if a list of book-prize winners can be deemed of such tremendous interest as to necessitate a special meeting. I have no control over this Board; I can only make suggestions to them. They tell me this matter will be considered at their next meeting.