§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland who is the person primarily responsible for the drawing up of the agenda for the various fortnightly meetings of the National Board; is this person at liberty to omit there from any matter which he does not wish to come to the knowledge of the 19 non-resident Commissioners; is he aware of the number of important matters that are thus being constantly reserved to the resident Commissioner to deal with afterwards, without any consultation whatever with the other members of the Board; and whether he will lay upon the Table a copy of the most recent agenda paper issued?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the agenda paper for each meeting of the Board is prepared by the secretary in attendance, in accordance with regulations approved from time to time by the Board. The Secretary is not at liberty to omit matters which he does not wish to come before the Board, but the Resident Commissioner is empowered, when the Board is not assembled, to deal personally with certain matters connected with administration. The agenda papers are con- 615W fidential, and it would not be in the public interest to lay them on the table of the House.