§ 41. Mr. NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the urgency of the question, he will use his influence with the courts of law to expedite the hearing of the appeal that has been lodged against the validity of the proclamation against the importation of arms?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have done my best to expedite the hearing of this appeal, but it has been found impossible to constitute a Court, and the appeal cannot now be heard until after the Long Vacation.
§ Mr. NEWMANIs the Chief Secretary aware that all the judges are at present in Dublin?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is all very well to say that, but I have done my best to constitute a court. I am not quite sure how long the case might last, and, therefore, there are difficulties which I wish very much I could overcome.
§ 42. Mr. NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the exact mileage from the point of debarkation at which the police have orders to refrain from seizing arms or other contraband matter in Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is not a question of mileage at all, but of the police interference after disembarkation has been completely effected.
§ Mr. NEWMANIn the case of other contraband goods once they are landed, are they safe?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir. The hon. Member has failed to make a distinction between the right of search by Customs officials for articles which are Customable, and which are supposed to have evaded duty, and the right of search which is supposed to belong to the police.
§ 16. Mr. NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the defenceless condition of the Protestant minority in the, southern provinces of Ireland owing to their obedience to the Proclamation against the importation of arms; and whether he will direct the Irish Government to remove the embargo and allow the minority adequate opportunity of immediately obtaining the arms necessary to their defence?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI think the hon. Member's description of the Protestants in the southern provinces is misleading, for, though undoubtedly in a great minority, I do not believe that anything will occur to place their lives and property in danger. The validity of the Proclamation is still under legal review.
§ Mr. NEWMANIf the Chief Secretary was a prudent man and a southern Protestant, would he not like to be possessed of a rifle.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEMay I ask if a number of Catholic Unionists in the South of Ireland are in as much danger as Protestants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI believe that is so. They are both in the same position.