u Heads of Scheme.
Provisional Conclusions.
they intimated, on November 13th, that the Advi¬ sory Committee were unable to approve of the sug¬ gestion that the Ulster representation in the Lower House should be strengthened by the addi¬ tion of a number of nominated members.
They considered that the proposal to include nomi¬ nated members to represent Southern Unionists could be defended and might be accepted, but the sumc considerations did not apply in the case of Ulster.
The Ulster representatives undertook to submit proposals for safeguarding the interests of Ulster by means other khan the extra representa¬ tion which had been contemplated.'*
11.
Money Bills .
Money bills to originate only in the House of Commons and not to be amended or rejected bv the House of Lords (Act, sect.
10).
12.
Disagreements between Houses.
Dis¬ agreements between the two Houses to be solved by joint sittings as set out in Act (sect.
11).
13.
Representation at Westminster.
Repre¬ sentation in the Parliament of the United King¬ dom to cease until there is a federal parliament.
\ 14.
Finance.
The provision (No.
2 above] as to the powers of the Irish Parliament gives it complete control over finance, including customs and excise.
An Irish exchequer and consolidated fund to be established and an Irish Controller and Audi¬ tor-General to be appointed as set out in Act (sect.
14 (1) and sect.
(21).
If necessary, it should be declared that all taxes at present leviable in Ireland should con¬ tinue to be levied and collected until the Irish Parliament otherwise decides.
The necessary adjustments of revenue as between Great Britain and Ireland during the transition period should be made.
15.
As soon as may be after the passing of the Act a joint Commission, one-half the mem¬ bers of which shall be chosen to represent Ireland and the other half to represent Great Britain shall 1 e appointed by His Majesty to negotiate and agree upon a trade, postal, and customs union between Great Britain and Ireland, which shall aim at securing and promoting the mutual interests of both countries in all such matters where their interests are common, or connected or parallel or capable of being united for mutual advantage; and in other matters where their interests are separate or competitive to provide for the fair pursuit of these interests with the least prejudice to both countries
It was agreed that the Sehatt should h<ue power to force a joint sitting ol both Houses o\er monev bills.
Agreed.
Representation at Westminster.
The Unionist representatives intimated that this was a sine qua non.
On the Nationalist side it was stated that, while they did not favour the continuance ot representation in the Imperial Parliament, pend¬ ing Federation of the United Kingdom, the} did not Iook upon its cessation as a sine qua non.
It was agreed that any Irish representative.*
as Westminster must have full power to deliber¬ ate and vote on all questions.
The question whether Irish representatives at Westminster should be directly elected or dele¬ gated by the Irish Parliament was reserved for further consideration.
It was suggested that the presence of a nominated element in the Irish House of Commons would probably give the Unionists for a time larger representation in a delegation appointed by that House than by members directly elected.
Reserved for further consideration.
The Nationalist Representatives were prepared to accept a guarantee of Free Trade between Great Britain and Ireland, at any rate for a term of years.
The Unionists were of opinion that such a guarantee was inconsistent with the Irish control of Customs and Excise.
* These proposals were not submitted under the circumstances explained in Appendix IV.
(gee p.
69).
