§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if Roman Catholic students at Maynooth are now taught and examined by Maynooth professors, and thereupon eligible for degrees in the national university without leaving the precincts of Maynooth; and, if so, will he state how this condition of affairs differs from actual affiliation of Maynooth. College in the national university?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSt. Patrick's College, Maynooth, is a recognised college of the National University, and the conditions under which students of a recognised college are admitted to degrees are laid down in the charter and statute of the university which have been presented to Parliament.
§ Mr. C. CRAIGWhat is the difference between this college and a college properly affiliated?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am under no obligation to answer questions of this sort. It is not a Department of State. If the hon. Member reads the charter and statutes he can see for himself.
§ Mr. C. CRAIGI would like to know, seeing that public money is expended on the upkeep of those colleges, if it is not the duty of the right hon. Gentleman to answer questions which are addressed to him on the subject, and if it is not his duty, whose duty is it?
§ Mr. MOOREBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that, may I ask does he not recognise an obligation because he obtained those moneys from the House by representing that the institution would be undenominational?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI adhere to that statement perfectly. At all events, the Act of Parliament provided for the machinery for the government of those universities by their senates, by charter, and by statutes. Those charters and statutes have now come into existence, and have been laid on the Table of this House. Anybody who reads them can discover what the constitutions of those universities are. I really cannot undertake at this Table to answer questions of discipline, and to give an explanation of the various acts of those great bodies which govern themselves subject to Parliament.
§ Mr. MOOREDoes the light hon. Gentleman suggest that Maynooth College is an undenominational college?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, I do not suggest anything of the kind.
§ Mr. FLAVINMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that the hon. Gentlemen are not always in a.state of mind that they can read?
§ Captain CRAIGDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to keep up the myth any longer that this National University is undenominational?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question has been answered.
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGasked if the Board of Studies have recommended the senate to make regulations that every student in the university should be compelled to go through a course in Irish and attend the lectures on Irish in the university college for one year before his degree is conferred; and if this regulation will be applicable to students at Maynooth College?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe authorities of the National University, to whom this question has been referred, inform me that the proceedings of the General Board of Studies are confidential and that they are not at liberty to make any statement on the subject. Resolutions passed by the Board must take the form of recommendations to the senate before they can be carried into effect.
§ Mr. C. CRAIGMay I ask, seeing that these proceedings which are supposed to be confidential become public at a very early date, it would not be better for him to give the fullest information when asked questions on this subject?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not think so.
§ Captain CRAIGWhen it suits him everything is confidential, and when it does not suit him—[HON. MEMBEBS: "Order, order."]