§ 98. Mr. DILLONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has considered the effect produced by the Order prohibiting the holding of meetings in Ireland for the discussion of political topics or for the purposes of amusement or recreation unless such meetings be authorised by a police permit; whether the Order prohibiting Members of the House of Commons representing Irish constituencies from addressing their constituents without a police permit has yet been abolished; and, if such Order has not been abolished, will immediate steps be taken for its abolition?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question, I might point out that it is difficult to differentiate between meetings where the Members of the House of Commons address their constituents and any other political meeting, and I am accordingly unable to act on the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. DILLONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he intends to maintain in Ireland the Regulations, prohibiting the holding of any political meeting whatsoever, without application to the police for a permit?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe Proclamation has taken that form, but, so far as an hon. Member of this House is concerned, the organiser of the meeting has only to intimate that to the police and the permit will be issued as a matter of course. It must take that form.
§ Mr. DILLONIs not this a most objectionable provision to apply to Members Of this House. I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that under all the coercion Acts applied to Ireland for the last thirty years, and in times of the wildest excitement, no Regulations of this kind have ever been enforced?
§ Mr. SHORTTYes, but during that thirty years we have not been at war.
§ Sir J. CRAIGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these Regulations apply equally to the North of Ireland, and that they have caused absolutely no inconvenience whatever?
§ Mr. KILBRIDEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he can tell the House whether Regulations of this character are in force either in Germany or in Austria?
Mr. NUGENTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a series of meetings of Unionists is to take place in Ulster on the 15th of August, and that those demonstrations are being attended by various Members of Parliament; and, in view of the fact that on the 1st July similar Unionist demonstrations were held, and absolute liberty given for processions and demonstrations?