63. Captain O'NEILLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state why the Mental Deficiency Bill, now before Parliament, does not apply to Ireland; whether he will give an undertaking to make the necessary alterations and amendments so that its beneficial provisions may be extended to all parts of the United Kingdom; and whether he is aware that the Irish division of the Medico-Psychological Association, at a special meeting recently, passed a resolution in favour of its application to Ireland?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have not received or heard of the resolution referred to. I am in consultation with the Irish Government as to whether the Bill should be extended to Ireland, but as the existing law in Ireland differs from that of this country, it will probably be found convenient to deal with the question of the feebleminded in Ireland in a separate Bill.
§ Mr. CASSELTo whom does the right hon. Gentleman refer as the Irish Government?
§ Mr. McKENNAI should have thought the hon. and learned Gentleman would recognise the constitutional phrase.