§ 49. Mr. PATRICK O'BRIENasked the Prime Minister whether the Commission recently appointed to inquire into the methods of appointment and promotion in the Civil Service Consular and Legal Departments do not intend to take evidence on the legal departments in Ireland; and whether, having regard to the difference in organisation between these legal departments in England and Ireland, he will consider the desirability of so amending the terms of reference of the Commission as to secure an inquiry into legal appointments in Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe terms of the reference to the Royal Commission are such as to cover the Irish legal departments. The Commission decided, however, with my concurrence, that in view of the situation created by the passing of the Government of Ireland Act, 1914, and the Suspensory Act, 1914, inquiry into the departments could not usefully be made by them at the present time.