Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, during the past six months, instructions have been given to district inspectors, head constables, or sergeants of the Royal Irish Constabulary to ascertain the cause of the difficulty in getting recruits for the Royal Irish Constabulary; if so, whether such instructions contained a query that if sixpence per day increase was given to members of the force it would 1895W have the effect of stimulating recruiting; and what is the intention of His Majesty's Government with regard to carrying into effect any contemplated increase in the pay of members of the Royal Irish Constabulary?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo such instructions have been issued to the Royal Irish Constabulary as there has been no necessity for doing so. The last increase of pay was granted to the rank and file of the Constabulary in 1908, and, as I have already informed the hon. Member, it is too soon to reopen the question.