THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEasked, Whether Her Majesty's Government intend to postpone any especial action, legislative or executive, with regard to outrages in Ireland until after the Committee of the House of Commons, which has been appointed to inquire into the state of parts of that country and to conspiracies said to exist therein, shall have reported the result of their inquiries; whether that Committee will examine witnesses, and whether the 264 Committee is expected to make a Report before Easter? The noble Marquess said, he thought that, after the congratulatory remarks in Her Majesty's Speech on the state of Ireland, and the slight importance attached therein to exceptions to its general condition, general surprise had been excited by the proposal of a Committee by the Government. As far back as the 24th of last month the Government intimated their intention to ask the other House to sanction the appointment of a Committee of Inquiry, which the Chief Secretary for Ireland said at the time would be a Secret Committee. On the 27th of the same month the Committee was appointed, and it was then announced by the Prime Minister that the Committee would not have the character of secrecy. Since that day no action had been taken by the Government in the matter, and the inquiry, he was informed, had only just begun. In the interval two deplorable murders had been committed—one in Mayo and the other in Leinster. These outrages, therefore, were not confined to Westmeath. The Government had abandoned the original proposal that the Committee should be a secret one, and that it should consider the remedy to be applied; intimating that their minds were already made up, and their object was simply to obtain in a constitutional manner the co-operation of Parliament in the measures to be taken. These were circumstances which induced all who were interested in the welfare and safety of Ireland anxiously to inquire whether the Government intended to wait until the Committee terminated their labours before taking any prompt action with a view to the repression of the appalling outrages perpetrated in that country. Nobody in this House, and but very few in the other House, or in the country, had expressed any doubt as to the condition of parts of Ireland, and no attempt had been made to thwart the action of the Government. He was surprised, therefore, that nothing had yet been done; and if nothing was to be done before Easter, he would ask whether it was desirable that anything at all should be done?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, I am not aware that I have anything to add to what was stated by my noble and learned Friend on the Woolsack the other day when this question was discussed on a Question of the noble and 265 learned Lord opposite (Lord Cairns), except to answer the noble Marquess's Question whether the Committee will examine witnesses, and how soon they are expected to report. I am told that they are already hearing evidence, that it is not expected they will examine many witnesses, that they will consume as little time as possible in the inquiry, and that they will report at an early date.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter before Five o'clock.