HC Deb 15 April 1913 vol 51 cc1818-9
58. Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIEN

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the impression now prevailing that the evidence of the Irish official witnesses before the Primrose Committee is favourable to the financial demands of Ireland, and of his own statement that these officials have no personal objection, he will represent to them the desirability in the public interest of their formally consenting to the publication of their evidence, with a view to suggestions for the amendment of the Government of Ireland Bill being sent up to the House of Lords on the next presentation of the Bill?

Mr. BIRRELL

As I have already stated, the greater number of the Irish official witnesses have a strong objection on principle to the publication of evidence given on the understanding that it would be treated as confidential. I cannot ask them to waive that objection, which I fully appreciate. I having been in some sense responsible for the giving of that undertaking cannot be the person to ask them to waive that objection.

Mr. W. O'BRIEN

If not the right hon. Gentleman, could not some other Member of the Government approach them, instead of standing upon punctilio, so as to let us know once and for all the evidence on which this secret Committee came to the recommendation of fiscal autonomy, and the reasons for which the Government rejected that view?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have already said that although I fully appreciate the reasons why the Civil servants, who were told that their evidence would be confidential, think it is very undesirable in the interests of the service that it should be published, I personally would be very glad if it could be published, were it only to destroy once and for ever the false impressions which I am afraid otherwise will always exist as to what they did say.

Mr. W. O'BRIEN

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the interests of the country are superior to the interests of the Civil Service? Are we never to get to the end of the mystery about this inquiry?

Mr. BIRRELL

If hon. Members will make a mystery, nothing will destroy it.