§ Mr. CLANCY(by Private Notice): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether or not his attention has been drawn to the strike amongst a considerable body of employés in the service of the Dublin Catholic Cemeteries Committee; whether it is a fact that one consequence of that particular strike is that a large number of bodies have remained un-interred for several days, and that danger thereby has arisen to the public health; whether the Cemeteries Committee is well able to pay the increased wages demanded by the employés which are called for in all the circumstances of the case; and whether, if the facts are as alleged, the Government intend to take any action?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Duke)The question did not arrive at the Irish Office until two o'clock to-day, and there has not been time to inquire into the matter.
§ Mr. BYRNEWill the right hon. Gentleman make immediate inquiries into the state of affairs in Dublin at present? Is he aware that fever has already broken out owing to the corpses not being buried?
§ Mr. DUKEDoubtless I shall obtain the particulars which the question calls for; but I cannot say offhand whether there is a large number of corpses unburied, or what the consequences are.
§ Mr. CLANCYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the facts have been published in the newspapers in Dublin and that the matter concerns the Local Government Board, of which he is President?
§ Mr. DUKEIf any communications on the subject had come to the Local Government Board I do not doubt that I should have become aware of the facts; but I think the hon. Member will hardly expect that I could keep myself acquainted with everything which occurs in Dublin.
§ Mr. BYRNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the employés of the Glasnevin Cemeteries Committee are paid the magnificent wage of 25s. 6d. a week to live on?
§ Mr. DUKEI have never heard until this day what is the amount, or whether there was any dissatisfaction on the part of the men.