HC Deb 31 May 1916 vol 82 c2688
53. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Prime Minister whether he has learned from recent events in Ireland that a large section of Irish opinion is not represented here; whether, in view of the admissions of certain Members of this House of responsibility for the consequences of attempting to rule on their advice people whom, as the results show, they neither lead nor understand, he consulted when in Ireland the real leader of the Nationalists, Professor Eoin MacNeill; whether the Minister of Munitions will, before formulating any proposal relating to Ireland, consult that gentleman and make his views known for the guidance of others; whether, before legislative action is taken on any new scheme for the government of Ireland, the Irish people will be afforded a free opportunity of considering and expressing their views on such draft scheme; and, with a view to giving freedom for discussing terms of liberty, whether martial law will be withdrawn from Ireland forthwith?

The PRIME MINISTER

The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the negative. The fourth part of the question does not appear to me to call for any answer. With regard to the last part of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for East Mayo.

Mr. GINNELL

In consequence of that answer, I beg to give notice that I will move the Adjournment after questions.