| (1) Public Loan Fund. | |
|---|---|
| (2) Commissioners of Irish Lights. | |
| (3) Queen's University, Belfast. | |
| (4) National University. |
Departments, etc., not Controlled by the Irish Government.
| (1) The Judiciary. | |
|---|---|
| (a) The Supreme Court of Judicature and its officers. | |
| (b) Recorders.[65] | |
| (c) County Court Judges. | |
| (2) Registry of Deeds. | |
| (3) Local Registration of Titles. | |
| (4) Railway and Canal Commission. | |
| (5) Commissioners of Public Works. | |
| (6) General Valuation and Boundary Survey of Ireland. | |
| (7) Treasury Remembrancer's Office. | |
| (8) National School Teachers' Superannuation Office. |
English Civil Departments Working in Ireland and not under the Control of the Irish Government.
| (1) Customs. | |
|---|---|
| (2) Inland Revenue. | |
| (3) General Post Office. | |
| (4) Board of Trade (Dublin and other Ports). | |
| (5) Quit Rent Office (Woods and Forests). | |
| (6) His Majesty's Stationery Office. | |
| (7) Civil Service Commissioners. | |
| (8) Inspector of Mines. | |
| (9) Inspector of Factories. | |
| (10) Registrar of Friendly Societies and Trades Unions, Building and Co-operative Societies. | |
| (11) Ordnance Survey of Ireland. | |
| (12) Public Works Loan Commissioners. | |
| (13) Exchequer and Audit Department. |
It is thus apparent that at present the Irish Government exercises control over only a small portion of the official agencies working in the country. Many of these agencies—some of first-class importance and dealing with strictly Irish business—are uncontrolled by the Irish Government, while the supervision exercised over them by the Imperial Parliament is of the most shadowy character. The congestion of public business in Westminster effectually prevents attention being paid to any Irish business—at least to any Irish business out of which party capital cannot be made.
In these circumstances, the first duty of the new Parliament will be to co-ordinate, and establish its control over, the dísjecta membra of Irish Government. To that end it will, presumably, group into classes or departments the various “Boards,” “Offices,” and other official agencies enumerated above on the principle of common or cognate functions. Such a classification is an essential preliminary to the establishment of effectual Parliamentary control over the transaction of public business. I proceed to suggest such a scheme of classification, but a preliminary word is necessary.
Some controversy has taken place as to what is, and [pg 056] what is not, business of a “purely Irish nature,” with which alone, the Irish Government is to be concerned under the promised Bill. In my opinion, the following Departments, out of those enumerated above, namely:
| (1) Customs, | |
|---|---|
| (2) Excise, | |
| (3) Post Office, Telegraphs, etc., | |
| (4) Treasury Remembrancer's Office, | |
| (5) Civil Service Commissioners, | |
| (6) Exchequer and Audit Office, and | |
| (7) Public Works Loan Commissioners, |
can not be so classed, for the following reasons.