§ Mr. REMNANTasked the Chief Secretary if he can now see his way to grant the inquiry into the present organisation and pay of the Royal Irish Constabulary, asked for in the petition presented to the Lord Lieutenant last month by fourteen of His Majesty's lieutenants, three vicelieutenants, 297 deputy-lieutenants, and 1,215 magistrates?
§ Mr. BIRRELLHaving regard to the fact that the scale of pay of the rank and file of the Royal Irish Constabulary was revised so lately as 1908 by an Act of Parliament based on the recommendations of a Departmental Committee which went very carefully into the points raised in the Memorial to which the hon. Member refers, it is too soon to re-open the question by instituting such an inquiry as is asked for in the Memorial, and the Memorialists have been so informed.
Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in many cases the claims for subsistence allowance for Census duty performed by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are being questioned by superintendents on the ground that the duty was not performed townland by townland; whether any instructions were issued to enumerators by the Census Commissioners or the police authorities to perform the duty in this manner; if not, why superintendents are now raising this question; whether he is aware that the claim is for 1s. for over eight hours' duty and 1s. 6d. for over twelve hours' duty for subsistence on such duty; and whether he will direct that the claims be paid without irritating queries being raised by superintendents, who know nothing of the fatigue which enumerators had to endure whilst engaged on this duty?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Inspector-General informs me that he is not aware that claims for subsistence allowance made by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in connection with the Census have been questioned on the grounds mentioned. No such instructions were issued to enumerators as suggested in the question. The rates of subsistence allowance are as stated.