§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if any record was kept by the Royal Irish Constabulary of the arms and ammunition voluntarily surrendered to the police under the provisions of the Peace Preservation Acts, 1881 to 1886; whether any of the arms and ammunition so surrendered have been restored to the owners; and if he will state the reason why information as to the number of firearms still in the custody of the police cannot be immediately ascertained?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Inspector-General informs me that records were kept in the2744W various sub-divisions of arms surrendered from time to time. Some of the arms surrendered were purchased under the provisions of Section 1 of the Peace Preservation Act, 1881, and others were restored upon legal requirements being fulfilled. The number of arms in the custody of the police varied, and the records were not kept up to date. It would take some time now to revise them in order to ascertain the present number on hand.
§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the decision of the Government that firearms voluntarily surrendered under the Peace Preservation Acts would be restored only to owners who could produce an Excise licence was arrived at; will he explain why it has been considered necessary to impose this condition in the case of firearms which are alleged to be useless; and whether a supplementary circular has been issued to the police in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe intention is, and has been, that firearms will be returned only to persons holding licences under the Gun Licence Act, whether the arms are useless or otherwise. This has been the invariable practice. No supplementary circular has been issued in the matter.
§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the declaration in the circular issued on 1st July, 1910, by the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary that the Irish Government had approved of the restoration of arms under the Peace Preservation Acts was warranted by the facts; will he state the nature of the proposal made to the Irish Government by the Inspector-General, and the decision thereon communicated to that officer on behalf of the Government; and will he lay upon the Table a copy of the correspondence that has passed on the subject?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe proposal made to the Irish Government by the Inspector-General implied simply that effect should be given to the provisions of the Peace Preservation Act relating to surrendered arms, and the Irish Government did not sanction anything beyond the requirements of the Act. Communications between the Inspector-General and the Irish Government are confidential, and it would be contrary to precedent to lay them on the Table.