HC Deb 03 April 1913 vol 51 cc529-30
4. Mr. GINNELL

asked whether the Gaelic League has been consulted and, if not, at whose instance most of the officials called organisers of Irish instruction are now employed mainly or wholly at other work; whether in these circumstances they regard their salary as a bribe to them to acquiesce in the neglect of the Irish instruction they were ostensibly appointed to promote, and are deterred from calling attention to this change of policy by the certain displeasure of official superiors; and whether those officials will be at once restored to their legitimate functions?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the Gaelic League has not been consulted, and that the occupation of the organisers of Irish language instruction at present is the same as it was at the time of their appointment, and they have never been employed except in connection with the work of Irish instruction in national schools. The statement in the second paragraph of the question is entirely without foundation. There has been no change of policy such as that referred to in the latter part of the question.