§ Mr. O'DONNELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is a fact that all the boats in the Rosslare route have been taken by the Admiralty for hospital service for an indefinite period; whether Munster, which is served by this route, supplies the greater part of the butter, bacon, and egg supply to this country, which it will be impossible to maintain if this route is closed; and will he undertake, in view of the importance to both countries of this question, to allow the railway companies to establish at least one service per day each way?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is the intention of the Admiralty to take up these three steamers for hospital purposes. I think my hon. Friend must be under some misapprehension as to the effect of the removal of these boats upon the trade of Munster, as no less than seventy-eight boats belonging to companies trading between Ireland and ports in Great Britain still remain at the disposition of their owners.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is the only fast through service from several counties of Munster bringing food supplies into different parts of this country, and can he see his way to give a service of one boat each way daily?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe do not want to dislocate the service with the South of Ireland, which is just as important on this side as it is to the South of Ireland, but military and naval considerations must prevail. The hon. Member asked whether we could give one boat each way daily. I will give that question careful consideration without giving any undertaking.
§ Mr. FLAVINI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement about the curtailment of food supplies for South Ireland owing to the stoppage of the Fishguard and Rosslare service?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have been in communication with the English railways on the subject, and they assure me that the only interruptions were due to the fact that some of these vessels were necessary for the conveyance of troops to and from Ireland, but arrangements have now been made to release certain of these vessels, and this will enable a regular daily service to be run in each direction between Fishguard and Rosslare?
§ Mr. FLAVINMay we take that as an assurance that we shall have a sailing at least one way each day from the South of Ireland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe railway companies on this side will do their best, of course, to deal with Irish traffic, but military and naval considerations must have their first attention.