§ 46. Mr. Cahir Healyasked the Prime Minister what negotiations he has had with the Government of Northern Ireland on the subject of their Bill giving pensions to all persons who have held any Ministerial office for at least three years and are over 50 years of age; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThis is the first time I have seen the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Healy) in his place. I hope he will never feel affected by any cry, "Strangers withdraw "
This is a matter for the Government of Northern Ireland, and I have no statement to make upon it.
§ Mr. HealyArising out of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, is he not aware that the Imperial contribution to this Government, which is the residue of the Northern Ireland Government's Consolidated Fund, will not be lessened by this new charge? Is he aware that nearly one-half of the Government of Northern Ireland Party are already Ministers? Should not the right hon. Gentleman 1434 know the facts about this, since he went to Belfast as an Irish Home Ruler himself, and we had to rescue him from the untender mercies of the Tory Party?
§ The Prime MinisterThe conception of a separate Parliament in Northern Ireland would have little meaning if it could not even decide on the details of the remuneration of its own Ministers.