asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that since the formation of the Irish Free State no election of representative Peers of Ireland has been held; that there are at present 15 Irish representative Peers in the House of Lords less than the number laid down; that Irish Peers resident in English constituencies are not entitled to a vote at Parliamentary elections and that they are consequently deprived of any Parliamentary representation unless they themselves stand for Parliament; and whether it is the intention of the Government that they should thus remain disfranchised?

I am aware that no election of representative Peers of Ireland has been held since 1922, that there are at present certain vacancies in the number of such Peers, and that it has been decided by the Courts that a Peer of Ireland is not entitled to vote at Parliamentary elections unless he has a seat in this House. As regards the last part of the Question I cannot undertake to introduce legislation to deal with this matter.