8. Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been directed to a report, dated 2lst October, presented by the Standing Committee on Legislation to the Executive Committee of the Irish General Council of County Councils, from which it would appear that twenty-four of the Irish county councils have pledged themselves to expend the ratepayers' money in providing scholarships in the National University alone, to the entire exclusion of Trinity College; whether an offer made by the Chief Secretary to provide a Grant of £10,000 per annum towards the cost of founding scholarships from primary to intermediate schools in Ireland has been rejected by this committee because it could not be similarly appropriated altogether to the National University or institutions in sympathy with its Irish policy, to the exclusion of Trinity College; and whether, under these circumstances, any steps will be taken to protect ratepayers in Ireland who may desire to send their sons to Trinity College, but are compelled to pay towards scholarships in which they have no interest?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy attention has been directed to the report referred to. I should be sorry if the twenty-four county councils referred to were to forfeit the Grant which I have conditionally obtained by refusing to agree to the conditions on which it has been offered, and I hope that wiser counsels may prevail; but I have no power under the Irish Universities Act of 1908 to prevent the county councils restricting their scholarships to the National University.
§ Mr. MOOREWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to withhold the Grant unless the conditions are complied with?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe conditions of the Grant have been laid down and I certainly have no intention of withdrawing from them.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLHow many county councils in the North of Ireland, where There is a considerable minority of Nationalists, have been given an opportunity of going to a National University if they so desire?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot say.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Provost of Trinity College is a signatory of the Solemn League Covenant? It is very interesting.