HC Deb 22 November 1917 vol 99 cc1337-8
19. Mr. O'DOWD

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the address of Judge Brown to the grand jury at Manorhamilton, county Leitrim, on the 12th instant, in which he pointed out the urgent need that exists for the development of the coalfields at Arigna and the great boon which such development would confer on the people of the counties of Sligo, Leitrim, and Roscommon and of other parts of the West and North of Ireland; whether he can say if, in view of all the representations made to him in and out of this House, he can now promise that the Government will take immediate steps to assist in this development; and whether he can promise, as a necessary preliminary to such development, to have a line of railway constructed from Arigna to Collooney for the distribution and sale of the coal got in this region?

Mr. DUKE

I have seen a report in the Press of the County Court judge's observations. As to the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a previous question on this subject in the OFFICIAL REPORT of the 29th October.