§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the reason for the delay in the distribution of the King's Coronation medal to the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police; and when it is expected that the medal will be distributed?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)There has been no avoidable delay, and the medal will be distributed as soon as it is issued by the Mint.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONCan the right hon. Gentleman give me any indication when that is likely to be?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would rather not.
§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a considerable number of men of the Royal Irish Constabulary were employed on duty in the streets and suburbs of Dublin, in augmentation of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, on the occasion of His Majesty's visit to that city and of the late prolonged labour strikes there; whether the constabulary so employed participated in the grant of nine days' extra pay given to the Metropolitan Police for their duties on these occasions; and, if not, what is the reason for withholding the grant of extra pay from the constabulary?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am aware that a number of men of the Royal Irish Constabulary were employed as stated. These men received no extra pay in respect of this work, but they were granted the usual subsistence allowances for absence from their stations on duty.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a force of extra police is still maintained in the county Roscommon, notwithstanding its freedom from crime or disturbance and regardless of the repeated protests of the county council; whether he is aware that at its last meeting the county council passed a resolution renewing its protest against the unnecessary tax which this involves on the ratepayers; and whether he will communicate with the police authorities with a view of having some more attention paid to the opinions of the elected representatives of the people?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have seen a copy of the resolution referred to. The number of extra police employed in the county of Roscommon was reduced in August last from two head constables and sixty-four men to one head constable and thirty men, and the responsible police authorities are not prepared to advise any further reduction at present.
§ Mr. HAYDENIs it not a fact that at the Winter Assizes, now proceeding from 568 the counties of Roscommon, Leitrim, and Sligo, three of the five counties in Connaught, there is not a single case, and in view of that will he report to the police authorities that this tax should not be kept upon the people.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will make representations again. But, of course, cases coming before the Assizes are not altogether a complete and sufficient answer to the notion that you require some extra police.
§ Mr. HAYDENCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there were any causes from the three counties I have named?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have no doubt that the hon. Member is quite accurate.