§ Mr. DEVLINI am glad that the opportunity of this Adjournment enables me to mention a very vital matter that arises out of Question Time to-day. I was thunderstruck to hear the answer which the Minister of Labour gave in reply to a question from the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Cambridge Uni- 710 versity. In that answer he declared that practically two-thirds of the unemployment allowance to workmen out of work in Ireland was to be withdrawn. I am not going to enter into the question as to the financial morality of the out-of-work unemployment grant. The Government having made up their minds to make Grants for unemployment to the workers in these islands—Ireland included—not by any declaration of policy, or because of any reasons stated to the House, stand up here in the person of their representative and in an answer declare that unemployed Irishmen are to be robbed of this constitutional right. This is one of the most scandalous things that has ever occurred in this country. Either it was a good thing or it was a bad thing to make those Grants. If it was a good thing they should have been continued; if it was bad why were they given? I know the reason why these Grants are to be withdrawn. There has been a vile conspiracy on the part of a number of wealthy reactionaries in this House and out of it to prevent these Grants being given to the unemployed of Ireland. A more anti-unionist purpose was never known in the history of this House than to turn round and tell us that the reason these Grants are being withdrawn is because Ireland is different to this country, and different to Scotland. In other words, all your legislation and administration that is evil is to be forced upon Ireland, and any financial legislative, or administrative advantages that can be given to this country are to be withdrawn in Ireland. I am not at all surprised that this action has taken place because it is only one of the countless instances of the kind that has occurred; though it is one of the most scandalous and barefaced transactions which we have ever heard from a scandalous and barefaced ministerial bench.
It is done by a Labour Member, by a gentleman who represents democracy. He does not examine or test the value of the question involved. Because he has been blackmailed into it by hon. Gentlemen on those Benches opposite he stands up in this House and declares that Ireland is not to get her share of the financial advantages involved in the matter. One would imagine, in the consideration of a matter of this sort that we in Ireland were a race of beggars, that we are asking money from you. Nothing of the sort.
711 The revenue of Ireland this year is £15,000,000 over Irish expenditure. You are actualy collaring £15,000,000 and you refuse to Ireland benefits that are given to this country and to Scotland! No wonder the people have ceased to have any faith whatever in this Parliament, and the hon. Gentlemen on those. Benches opposite will not hear the last of this question. I would ask the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Swansea (Sir. A. Mond), who is well known for his democratic instincts and his love of justice for Ireland, in the old democratic days, kindly to send for the Labour Minister, so that we may have an opportunity of securing from him some justification for the action which he has taken, some justification that can be given, not 712 by question and answer, but on an occasion of this character, which is one of the few that offer themselves for dealing with a matter of this sort. I put it to English Members: Is it any wonder that the people of Ireland want to get clear of this Parliament altogether? No housing. No reconstruction. No demobilisation. No solution of labour problems, but an attempt to steal this miserable pittance to which Ireland, because of her association with you, is entitled to, and that is given to the unemployed workers in Ireland. All I have to say, in conclusion, is this: Instead of facing Cabinet Ministers, I am standing before a den of thieves.
§ Adjourned accordingly at Seven minutes before Ten o'clock.