§ 8. Mr. GINNELLasked how the actuary now examining the accounts of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund will deal with the period for which the accounts are said to be not available; and, if the missing accounts are recovered for his purposes, whether an independent actuary appointed by the contributors to that fund will be allowed to examine them?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Inspector-General informs me that the account books in connection with the fund from 1866 to the present date have been traced and are now available. I see no necessity for the appointment of another actuary.
§ Mr. GINNELLIn view of the expressed desire of the pensioners, whose property this is, will the right hon. Gentleman allow an actuary appointed by them to examine the accounts?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, I see no necessity for that.
§ 9 and 13. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if he will produce or render accessible the report made by a county inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary on Sergeant Sheridan's reports, and say why the latter was not put on trial; and whether the amount paid to Sheridan out of the Constabulary Force Fund will now be brought into account by the actuary; and (2) whether the accounts of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund show that payments for so-called meritorious services were made out of that fund to all the officers who employed and gave good records to Sheridan and Cullinan, while no such payment was made to any officer who exposed the criminal activity of these men; and whether the amount of all such payments will now be restored to that fund?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have already stated, I must decline to reopen in any way the case of Sergeant Sheridan. Cullinan was not a member of the police. No local officer of the police has the power to grant favourable records.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the question whether the money paid to these men will be restored to the fund.
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir.
§ 11. Mr. GINNELLasked what is the total amount of grants, under whatever name, made out of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund to officers, with the amount contributed to the fund by all officers, and to men, with the amount contributed to the fund by all men, since 1878?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have already informed the hon. Member, the constabulary authorities are busy procuring information required for the actuarial investigation of the position of the fund, and I cannot impose upon them the duty of preparing the further return asked for in the question.
§ 12. Mr. GINNELLasked, having regard to the profit made by the Treasury by charging persons of all ranks in the Civil Service, including the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan police, on commuting their pensions, 5 per cent. on money which the Treasury obtains at 3½ per cent., whether it is intended to alter the law requiring this before the passing of the Government of Ireland Bill; and, if not, into which Treasury will this profit go after the passing of that Bill?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)Under the Government of Ireland Bill the provisions of the Pensions Commutation Acts are applicable to compensation allowances payable under the Bill. Any profit due to the fact referred to would accrue to the Irish Government.
§ 14. Mr. GINNELLasked whether Cullinan, the hired informer who organised the attack on a farmer's house in county Clare, was in the pay and service of Head-Constable Whelehan when the latter lost his life in connection with that attack; how long afterwards Cullinan's services were retained; how much he was paid out of the Constabulary Force Fund; and whether payments to such men will be brought under the notice of the actuary now investigating the accounts of that fund?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe constabulary authorities have no information as to whether Cullinan was in the pay and service of the late Head-Constable Whelehan. Cullinan was a Crown witness in the case referred to, and it is not known what became of him after the trial. He never received any grant from the Constabulary Force Fund.