§ Mr. DILLON(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the statement that on Saturday a Proclamation was issued by the Lords Justices of Ireland, extending the application of martial-law to the whole of Ireland for an indefinite period; whether he has approved of this Proclamation, and, if so, on what grounds he justifies the application of martial-law long after all disturbance has come to an end, for an indefinite period, to the whole extent of Ireland, nine-tenths of which remained perfectly peaceful throughout the recent insurrection; and whether he considers the issue of such a Proclamation calculated to 2543 promote an atmosphere favourable to the settlement of the Irish difficulty by general government, will and assent?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI said in my statement, last Thursday, that martial-law is being continued for the time as a precautionary measure, and in the hope that its disappearance will be speedy and complete. In the meantime it will not be resorted to except in cases of urgent necessity, and with the minimum of inconvenience to law-abiding persons.