§ Earl WINTERTONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on how many days during the recent Railway strike in Ireland he and the Lord Lieutenant, respectively, were in residence in Dublin?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe records of the office show that the Lord Lieutenant was in Dublin for seven days during the recent railway strike, and the Chief Secretary for two days.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot.
§ Earl WINTERTONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the statement issued to the Press by Sir James Dougherty during the railway strike in Ireland to the effect that the Government were taking no sides was issued after consultation with himself?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo statement of any kind was issued to the Press by the Under-Secretary during the railway strike.
§ Earl WINTERTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say who was responsible for the statement that appeared in the Press said to have been signed by Sir James Dougherty?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNothing was said to be signed by him. Some newspaper persons intruded themselves on the Under-Secretary's notice, and asked him for certain information which he gave to them. The next day—I will not say to his surprise, but as a matter of fact—he saw the report of an interview alleged to have taken place between these gentlemen and himself. It was a wholly garbled version of what never took place. This garbled version of an alleged interview now appears in the Noble Lord's question as a "statement issued to the Press." No such statement was ever issued.
§ Earl WINTERTONNo contradiction was made at the time. Can the right hon. Gentleman say why?