Broadly speaking, it was less desired in Ireland than in Great Britain; and even for Great Britain Mr.Lloyd George was legislating in advance of public opinion rather than in response to it.
Mr.O'Brien and his following vehemently opposed the application of the Bill to Ireland; and the Irish Catholic Bishops, by a special resolution, expressed their view to the same effect.

The Bill, however, had a powerful advocate in Mr.Devlin, and the Irish party decided to support its extension to Ireland, subject to certain modifications which they obtained.
Apart from the new unsettlement of public opinion which it created both in Great Britain and in Ireland, the Insurance Act added to our difficulties on the Home Rule question.

It was clear already that the question of finance lay like a rock ahead.

Up to 1908 the proceeds of Irish revenue had always given a margin over the cost of all Irish services, though that margin had dwindled almost to vanishing-point.

Old Age Pensions completely turned the beam and left us in the position of costing more than we contributed.