THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEasked, Whether Her Majesty's Government intend in the present Session to amend the laws in Ireland relating to Bankruptcy and to Imprisonment for Debt, and to bring them into conformity with the laws of England? The noble Marquess said, it was highly desirable that the application of the law of bankruptcy to non-traders, which had been in operation some years in England, and was an unquestionable improvement, should be at once extended to Ireland, and there was no reason for postponing this till the entire English law on the subject had had a longer trial.
LORD DUFFERINreplied that the Government were fully alive to the necessity of legislation in the direction indicated by the noble Marquess. They intended in the course of the Session to introduce a Bill amending the Irish bankruptcy law, and assimilating the law relating to imprisonment for debt to that of England.