§ Mr. REDDYasked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that the Census enumerator at Banagher, who is a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, has refused to accept the Census return filled up by Mr. C. J. O'Riordan on the ground that it is filled up exclusively in Irish; and whether, in view of the arrangements made by the Registrar-General for the 1953 acceptance of Census returns filled up in Irish, he would state what steps he proposed to take in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe facts are as stated. Information in Irish can only be accepted from those who speak Irish only, and arrangements have been made to facilitate all such persons. The Census forms provide for a full return of the number of persons who speak Irish only and Irish and English. In the event of English-speaking persons, such as Mr. O'Riordan, refusing to fill the form in any language but Irish, the practice is that the form is translated at the central office and the translation is verified by the enumerator.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have not the particulars before me at present.