§ 84. Captain SHEEHANasked the Minister of Reconstruction whether, in the Advisory Council which he has appointed to assist his Department, he has absolutely denied representation to Irish town and country workers; whether this refusal to recognise the claims of Irish labour was of deliberate intention on his part; and, seeing that British labour interests are adequately represented, whether he can explain why the position of Irish labour is ignored?
§ The MINISTER Of RECONSTRUCTION (Dr. Addison)It would not be possible without making the council unduly large to include representatives of every interest, but it is my intention, as I have already stated, to add additional members from time to time, according to the nature of the subjects referred to the Council for advice; and in the event of any question affecting Irish labour being so referred, the necessity of obtaining the views of Irish labour representatives would arise.
§ Captain SHEEHANThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the point whether it is not the fact that he has absolutely refused to recognise the claims of Irish labour?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have constituted the Council as well as I can.
§ Captain SHEEHANYou have no Irish labour interest represented on the Council.
§ Dr. ADDISONA large number of people are not represented on the Council.
§ Captain SHEEHANMy point is as to Irish labour.
§ 85. Captain SHEEHANasked the Minister of Reconstruction whether he will consider the advisability of setting up a once a distinctively Irish Reconstruction Council, thoroughly representative of all Irish trade, labour, and scientific interests, to deal with reconstruction work in Ireland after the War, and to formulate immediately national schemes of reconstruction for that country?
§ Dr. ADDISONI will consult my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary, but my own view is that, at all events, most of the objects which the hon. Member has in mind may be better accomplished through the agency of the strong and representative Advisory Council which I have 1830 recently set up, and which contains members from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
§ 86. Captain SHEEHANasked the Minister of Reconstruction the number of Departments and Committees he has had assisting him in his reconstructive duties; upon how many of these was there special representation for Irish interests; and were any inquiries conducted in Ireland as to what could be done in the way of national reconstruction in that country after the War?
§ Dr. ADDISONI must refer the hon. Member to Command Paper 8196, which will, I think, give him the information for which he asks.
§ 87. Captain SHEEHANasked the Minister of Reconstruction whether his Department has considered the question of improving transit facilities in Ireland after the War, of establishing new harbours on the West Coast of Ireland and connecting them with the main railway systems of the country, and generally of improving the internal and external means of trade communications for Ireland?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am considering the question of the improvement of transit facilities generally, and, as at present advised, I am not prepared to consider specific proposals for the establishment of new harbours in Ireland or elsewhere.
§ 89. Captain SHEEHANasked the Minister of Reconstruction whether he has received any representations from Irish Government Departments in reference to rehousing schemes in Ireland after the War; if so, will he say what Departments made these representations, what was the nature of them, and what action was taken upon them; and can he give an estimate of the sum it is proposed to spend in England and Scotland, respectively, on re housing work after the War and what corresponding or equivalent sum is to be allocated for similar purposes in Ireland?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am in consultation with my colleagues on the subject of the general policy of housing throughout the United Kingdom, and have not considered specific schemes, which will be dealt with by the executive Departments concerned. I am not yet in a position to give the estimate asked for in the last part of the question.
§ Captain SHEEHANWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of 1831 my question, whether he has received information from Irish Government Departments, and, if so, from which?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have been in frequent consultation with the Chief Secretary on this very matter.
§ Mr. PRINGLEDid the right hon. Gentleman call his attention to the fact that the Convention is going to spend next year in considering the question of Irish housing?
§ Dr. ADDISONNo; it has nothing to do with that matter.
§ Captain SHEEHANMy question definitely asks whether any Irish Government Departments were consulted, and, if so, which?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have frequently consulted the Department of my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary.
§ 90. Captain SHEEHANasked the Minister of Reconstruction in what ways, and to what extent, it is proposed to carry out reconstruction work in Ireland after the War; what special industries it is proposed to foster and develop; and what new industries, if any, it is intended to introduce or establish in the country?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am not in a position to make a general statement in reply to this question. Representative Irishmen have a place on many of the Committees of Inquiry which are dealing with the problem of reconstruction, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary over various other matters in which Ireland is specially concerned.
§ Captain SHEEHANWhat I ask is whether the right hon. Gentleman can make a statement as to actual reconstruction work being executed in Ireland? The idea prevails in Ireland that the right hon. Gentleman is doing nothing.