“... But the disabilities under which Ireland labours are not confined to Private Bill procedure. The problems that affect her well-being, the peculiarities of her position and requirements are such that similarity of treatment does not always involve equal justice ... under existing circumstances the special needs of Ireland do not, and cannot receive, adequate attention. Sufficient relief cannot, in our opinion, be afforded by mere amendment in the Standing Orders of the House of Commons. Some delegation of authority is necessary. We believe that power to deal with much of the business relating to Irish affairs which Parliament is at present unable to cope with, might, with perfect safety and with advantage both to Ireland and Parliament, be delegated to an Irish body to be constituted for the purpose.... Parliament should take power to refer to the Statutory Body not only business connected with Private Bill Legislation, but also such other matters as in its wisdom it may deem suitable for reference, under prescribed conditions. The experience gained by this method of _ad hoc_ reference would materially assist Parliament in the ultimate grouping into distinct classes of matters to be referred to the Statutory Body.” The document is far too long to quote in full. We dealt critically with the Irish problem as it presented itself to us then, and concluded with a recommendation which, if it had been acted upon, would by now have borne fruit in the shape of information of great value, to the public. “... We do not consider it now opportune,” we said, “to make more definite proposals on the points herein raised. We are prepared to inquire fully into them if the Association so desire, but we submit that inquiry can be best conducted by means of a Royal Commission, and that the proper function of this Association is to place its opinions and propositions before such a Commission. We therefore recommend the Association to use its best endeavours to secure the appointment of a Commission, and to instruct this or some other Committee to prepare a detailed report for its consideration, with a view to placing the same in evidence before the Commission....”