§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the number of meetings which have been held in Ireland to protest against the unemployment caused by the restrictions on the brewing and distilling industries of the country; what is to become of the unemployed; if the restrictions will be withdrawn; and if he is aware that the only offer of the Government is to find employment for a few hundred men out of a total of 6,000 deprived of their employment?
§ Mr. DUKEMy attention has been called to the meetings in question. The restrictions are not issued by the Irish Executive, but are of general application. Employment has been found for considerable numbers of men, and arrangements are in view by which this provision will be largely extended. The suggestion of the existence of 6,000 unemployed is, I believe, an extreme exaggeration