§ 32. Mr. BYRNEasked the Home Secretary if he can state the amount of expenses involved in importing to Dublin 600 Royal Irish Constabulary men to take the place of the Dublin Metropolitan Police; if he is aware that these men have been drafted from all parts of Ireland at considerable expense to take the place of the Dublin Metropolitan Police who are engaged in a struggle for a living wage; if the Government will reconsider their decision and allow the men a reasonable increase in their wages; and if he will state the wages and bonuses paid to the London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, and Birmingham police forces, and in other cities similar to Dublin?
Mr. SAMUELThe hon. Member has been misinformed. Royal Irish Constabulary have not been drafted into Dublin to take the place of the Dublin Metropolitan Police. I will make inquiries as regards the present emoluments of police in other places, but I would remind the hon. Member that it was only in 1914 that the Dublin Metropolitan Police received a substantial increase of wages, now supplemented by the war bonus of 3s. 6d. a week recently sanctioned both for the Dublin Metropolitan Police and for the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Mr. HEALYDoes the reply deny that 600 men of the Royal Irish Constabulary have been drafted into Dublin as stated?
§ Mr. BYRNEThe right hon. Gentleman refers to a substantial increase. Is he aware that that increase is one of 2s., granted after thirty years? Is that substantial?
Mr. HEALYWhat is the difference between the wages of the Irish police and those of the police of the towns mentioned? Have not the Dublin police recently had much more laborious and terrible duties to discharge than the police in these other towns?
Mr. SAMUELI could not possibly make a comparison of that sort except by circulating the figures with the OFFICIAL REPORT. During the rebellion the Dublin Metropolitan Police had to be withdrawn from the streets, as they were unarmed.
41 and 42. Mr. NUGENTasked the Home Secretary (1) if he will say from what country districts 500 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary have been drafted into Dublin city; whether this is to be taken as evidence that their services are unnecessary in the districts from which they were withdrawn; if so, whether there is any reason why they should not be transferred to the Regular Army for military service; and (2) whether some 500 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary have been drafted from the country districts into Dublin city; if so, whether he will state the reason why they have been so drafted; and whether it has any reference to the dissatisfaction existing amongst the Dublin Metropolitan Police because of the refusal of the Government to grant them an adequate war bonus and an increase of pay sufficient to enable them to meet the increased cost of living consequent upon the War?
Mr. SAMUELI would refer to the reply on this subject which I have given to-day to the hon. Member for the Harbour Division of Dublin.
Mr. SAMUELThe hon. Member has been quite misinformed. There has been no such movement of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Mr. HEALYDoes that mean that it may be in the county? Phænix Park is, I believe, technically outside the city of Dublin and in the county?
Mr. SAMUELMy information is that there has been no large movement of 400 or 500, or any large number of the Royal Irish Constabulary, with a view to replacing the Metropolitan Police.
Mr. SAMUELNot that I am aware of. A very small number—ten or fifteen, a mere handful—of men have come into Dublin for some special duty; but there has been no movement of the kind suggested.