§ 17. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of policemen employed during the last twelve months in political espionage in Ireland; the number of persons thereby made amenable to the law; the estimated cost of that service in that time; and whether he can name any Irish representative body that has expressed approval of either that service or the expenditure on it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI stated in the course of a reply I gave to the hon. Member on the 27th July last that it is the duty of all members of the Royal Irish Constabulary to exercise such supervision as may be possible or necessary over persons who have committed or are suspected of committing illegal acts. This answer still holds good, and the present question is accordingly based on a misapprehension of the facts.