§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked whether the Irish Parliament to be established by the Government of Ireland Bill will have full power over religious instruction in all public elementary schools in Ireland; whether it will be able to impose any religious tests upon teachers in any such schools; whether it can refuse to recognise any existing denomination or undenominational school and withhold Grants and, if so, on what grounds; and whether, in the event of a school being declared to be unnecessary or differentiation being made in the salaries given to teachers for religious reasons, an appeal will lie to the Privy Council or to Imperial Parliament?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Irish Government will have full power over public elementary schools in Ireland, subject to the restrictions under Clause 3 of the Bill, which would certainly prevent them imposing religious tests on teachers, and otherwise giving preference, privileges, or advantages, or imposing disabilities or disadvantages on account of religious belief. The question whether the Irish Parliament have contravened Clause 3 is a matter which would always be raised for ultimate decision by the Privy Council, and the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament is the same with respect to these matters as it is with respect to all other Acts of the Irish Parliament.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILIs there anything in the Bill to prevent tests being imposed on teachers other than those imposed in the interests of all denominations?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am unable to see what kind of test could be imposed.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILA test for a teacher teaching in a Roman Catholic school or for a teacher teaching in a Protestant school.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be humanly possible for an Irish Parliament to devise any system of education more denominational than that which exists at present?