§ LORD EMLYasked the Lord Privy Seal, Whether Her Majesty's Government have considered the scheme laid 1920 before Parliament in April last by the Senate of the Royal University of Ireland, and whether they will announce their intentions on the subject in time to allow matriculation examinations to be held during the present year? The noble Lord said that the subject to which the question referred excited much interest in Ireland, and that the Secretary of the Royal University of Ireland was besieged by anxious inquiries on the subject. He believed that something like 1,700 students had passed the highest standard in the examinations held in connection with the system of intermediate education in that country, and a great number of them would be prevented from competing for various prizes at the Royal University on the ground that they would be too old to do so if the matriculation examinations were postponed much longer. He would point out that the very class of persons who would be selected as examiners would be just about to go away for their vacations. He hoped the Government, who had had three months to arrive at a conclusion, would announce their decision, so as to avoid the grave inconvenience which would otherwise be caused.
§ LORD CARLINGFORDassured his noble Friend that he felt as strongly on the subject as he did. He was quite aware of the great interest taken in the matter by a large number of persons in Ireland. Her Majesty's Government, being quite aware of that fact, would be very sorry that the present year should be lost, and would take steps, so far as lay with them, to enable the Royal University of Ireland to commence its operations without delay. He was able to inform his noble Friend that it would be his duty before very long to introduce a short Bill into this House for the purpose of charging upon the Irish Church Fund such an annual sum as in the view of Her Majesty's Government would be sufficient to enable the Royal University of Ireland to perform its work, and, as they hoped, with efficiency and success.
§ LORD EMLYsaid, that he had heard the statement of his noble Friend with the greatest possible satisfaction, and he was quite sure that that satisfaction would be felt by all persons in Ireland who really took any interest in higher education.