§ Captain REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are permitted to become members of the Police and Prison Officials Union; and, if not, why they do not enjoy the same rights as other police forces in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIt was decided by the Government that the Royal Irish Constabulary could not be permitted to join the National Union of Police and Prison Officers, inasmuch as the Royal Irish Constabulary is a semi-military force directly under the control of the Crown, and subject in many respects to the same conditions of employment and discipline as the Army and Navy forces.