§ Mr. W. O'BRIENI beg to ask the Prime Minister a question of which I have given him private notice: Whether he will enable us to draw attention to the circumstances of the prosecution of seventeen young men for political riot in Bantry who have just been sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour; and the necessity for an immediate public inquiry into the administration of justice in Ireland as between one section of Nationalists and the other; whether he will do so by taking the Third Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill at an early hour tonight or by adjourning it until to-morrow?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Prime Minister asks me to answer. With regard to this question I have no knowledge whatever, and have received none of any special circumstances connected with this trial at Ban-try, and I am not in a position to say anything about it. If the facts are as the hon. Gentleman assumes, he had better put a question on the Paper to-morrow, and I will answer it. At present I have no information whatever.
§ Mr. O'BRIENIt is not a question of answering, but of debate; and may I ask what possibility there can be of debate upon this question upon any other occasion except to-night, considering that, under the Prime Minister's Motion of to-day, no opportunity for moving the Adjournment of the House will be given?
§ Mr. BIRRELLObviously there can be no Debate, so far as I am concerned, until I am in a position to know the facts of the case.
§ Mr. O'BRIENWhen will that be, and what occasion does the right hon. Gentleman suggest there will be on which the House can discuss this exceedingly urgent question?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe adjournment for the holidays.
§ NEW MEMBER SWORN,—William Joynson-Hicks, esquire, for County of Middlesex (Brentford Division).