HC Deb 10 April 1911 vol 24 cc32-3
Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIEN

asked the Prime Minister if he can now give to the House the names of the financial experts and other well qualified persons, including in the number representatives of different sections of Irish opinion, whom the Cabinet have taken into consultation in connection with the financial relations between Great Britain and Ireland; will those gentlemen sit with the Committee of the Cabinet or as a separate departmental committee; will they take evidence and make a formal Report; if so, will the nature of the evidence be made public, and for what period of time is it estimated that their investigation will last; will they proceed on the basis of the Report of the Childers Royal Commission of 1894; and, if not, upon what other basis. May I point out that the first part of this question has already been anticipated, but I would like to ask the Prime Minister whether he regards the list of names which has been published, and in which so far as I know there is not a single Irish layman, as a fulfilment of his promise to include representative Irishmen of different sections of Irish opinion?

The PRIME MINISTER

Yes, Sir, I do.

Mr. MOORE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as there is a Roman Catholic Bishop on this Committee, he will add some member in whom the minority in Ireland have some confidence.

Mr. W. O'BRIEN

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will kindly reply to the last part of my question, which is whether the Government have thrown to the winds the Report of the Childers Commission which was appointed by a Liberal Government themselves, or whether, if the Committee is not to proceed upon that basis, upon what basis are they going to proceed?

The PRIME MINISTER

As regards the point which is raised, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary on 6th April to the hon. Member for North Westmeath.

Mr. W. O'BRIEN

May I ask whether the House is to receive no further information as to the proceedings of this Star Chamber Tribunal?

Mr. MOORE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is the fixed intention of the Government that the minority in Ireland are to have no representation on this Committee?

Mr. W. O'BRIEN

There is no minority in Ireland.