§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked why the officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary in county Longford are now all of the Protestant denomination; whether he is aware that until three years ago the county inspector and two of the three district inspectors were Roman Catholics; and whether any religious test is applied in making appointments to the several counties in Ireland, more particularly in those in which any agrarian difficulty exists?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is impossible to regulate the distribution of the officers of the 1293W Royal Irish Constabulary exclusively by denominational considerations. Nor is there any reason for doing so. No religious test is applied in making appointments to the several counties in Ireland.