HC Deb 08 July 1915 vol 73 c536
3. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will inform the House of the class of work in which the secretary of the Irish Industrial Development Association has been engaged; his efficiency therein; the circumstances in which he has been expelled from the sphere of his operations by the military authorities under the Defence of the Realm Act; the system of shadowing by which a continuance of his work in any part of Ireland has been rendered impossible; whether he has ever been convicted or accused of any crime; and what the Department has done to counteract the loss of this official to the cause of industrial development in Ireland?

Mr. BIRRELL

The gentleman in question was not an officer of the Department. The Department have no information regarding the matters mentioned in the hon. Member's question.

Mr. GINNELL

Has not the Department knowledge that he was engaged in work corresponding to and in co-operation with the Department, and the knowledge that he has been expelled?

Mr. BIRRELL

No, Sir. He was not in any way an officer of the Department. He may have been engaged in doing what the hon. Member calls correspondence, but we have no control over him, no knowledge of him, and I am not very much interested in him.

Mr. GINNELL

Was he or was he not expelled?

Mr. BIRRELL

I must have notice of that. I know nothing about it.

Mr. GINNELL

The question is on the Paper.

Mr. BIRRELL

I am asked as President of the Department what has happened to this man, and I say I never heard of him.