§ 48. Mr. HIGHAMasked the Prime Minister whether the Government is altering its present policy of maintaining law and order in Ireland; and whether the Chief Secretary for Ireland will be allowed to carry to a successful conclusion his administration as explained to the House by the Prime Minister?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second, in the affirmative.
§ Lieut. Commander KENWORTHYWhat is meant by "law and order"?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid it is something very different to what commends itself to the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
§ Captain REDMONDOwing to the startling revelations during the last week concerning the irregular forces employed by the Government in Ireland, does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that the Government intend to keep up these irregular forces and these irregular methods of dealing with questions of law and order in Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy hon. and gallant Friend is entering into a very elaborate field of inquiry at the present moment. I do not agree with his view of the circumstances. We must take every means at our disposal to enforce the law, and if it is to be stopped, then it must be stopped first of all by the people who assassinate the guardians of the law.
§ Captain REDMONDAre not the Regular forces of the Crown the proper forces to be employed to enforce law and order in that country?
§ Lieut-Colonel CROFTIs it not a fact that in 999 cases out of 1,000 these men are doing their duty splendidly.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is so.