§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked the Chief Secretary (1) how many members of the Royal Irish Constabulary volunteered to join the Army at the time 200 were accepted; how many recruits have since joined the Royal Irish Constabulary; on what grounds a larger number of the Royal Irish Constabulary are not permitted to join the Colours; and (2) whether, in view of the fact that recruits for the Army are being called for, he will consider the desirability, with a view to stimulating recruiting in Ireland, of permitting a larger number of members of the Royal Irish Constabulary to join the Army as volunteers and, if necessary, of filling their places by re-employing constabulary pensioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn November, 1914, volunteers were called for from the Royal Irish Constabulary for service with the 1641W Irish Guards, applications being limited to unmarried constables between the ages of twenty and thirty-five. From this limited class 493 constables came forward, of whom 66 subsequently withdrew their names and 37 were removed from the list as being unsuitable on various grounds, 200 being finally selected. The vacancies created by the departure of the latter have not been filled, but some 260 recruits have since been enlisted to fill the ordinary wastage of the force. Recruiting was, however, entirely suspended on the 10th April last. The question of permitting the enlistment of a further number of volunteers is under consideration, and the possibility of utilising the services of constabulary pensioners has not been lost sight of; but I must point out that emergency legislation, and the necessity for active co-operation with the naval and military authorities during the War, has materially added to the duties normally devolving on the police.
§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked how many gentlemen, nominated by the Lord Lieutenant, have joined the Royal Irish Constabulary as cadets since the outbreak of War; whether these gentlemen were of military age; and whether head constables of the force could have been found able and willing to perform the duties of district inspector?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSince the outbreak of War, four gentlemen nominated by the Lord Lieutenant, and all of military ages, have joined the Royal Irish Constabulary as cadets, while seven head constables have been promoted to the rank of district inspector in that period. Under the regulations of the force, one-half of the vacancies in that rank are filled by the appointment of cadets and one-half by the promotion of head constables. The maintenance of this proportion is very important in the interests of the force, but the Inspector-General is fully alive to the desirability of not making further appointments of men of military age during the period of the War. It is therefore proposed to suspend the nomination of cadets in that period, and when recruiting is resumed to give preference to gentlemen who have served in His Majesty's Forces during the War.