§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEBefore the House adjourns, I should like to ask the noble Marquess opposite whether he will tell us on what day he proposes to 278 take the Second Reading of the Government of Ireland Bill. We were under the impression that the 27th instant was the day decided upon, but an impression has got abroad that an earlier day is in the contemplation of the noble Marquess, and it will, perhaps, relieve anxious minds if he can make an announcement on the subject.
THE MARQUESS, OF CREWEI dare say your Lordships will remember that when the question of the date on which the Second Reading of the Government of Ireland. Bill was likely to be taken was discussed before we adjourned for the Christmas holidays I professed myself unable to name a date as at all a certain one because the arrival of the Bill in your Lordships' House was then somewhat distant. Now I understand that the last stage of the Bill is sure to be completed in the course of the present week in another place. In those circumstances if the Second Reading of the Bill here is put down for the 27th, the date suggested by noble Lords opposite, I think that will give plenty of time for the Bill to be printed and in the hands of members of your Lordships' House. I hope that arrangement will meet the convenience of your Lordships. I propose to put the Second Reading down accordingly for the 27th.
§ House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Four o'clock.