§ 41. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of persons in Ireland who have been, on political grounds, prosecuted, acquitted, convicted, imprisoned, now in prison, 186 banished from Ireland, banished from some part of Ireland, imprisoned for disobeying a banishment order, dismissed from the public service, degraded in the public service, denied normal promotion in the public service, and dismissed from public or private employment at the instance of the Government, respectively, since the 1st August, 1914?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)I am unable to accept the hon. Member's suggestion that offences which imperil the safety of the Realm and are to the advantage of its-enemies have been dealt with on political grounds, and I am therefore unable to give him information based on this assumption.
§ Mr. GINNELLCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House what the grounds are if they are not political— surely they are not criminal?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir, they are grounds affecting the public safety.