In the upshot the Nationalist majority refused to take any part; but Redmond, with one of his supporters, Mr.William Field, served on the "Recess Committee" and concurred in its Report, out of which came the creation of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction.
In 1896 the Commission on Financial Relations, which had been set up by the Liberal Ministry in 1894, reported, and its findings produced a state of feeling which for a moment promised co-operation between divided interests in Ireland.

Unionist magnates joined with Nationalists in denouncing the system of taxation, which the Commission--by a majority of eleven to two--had described as oppressive and unjust to the weaker country.
Redmond was one of the members of this Commission, which included also distinguished representatives of his Nationalist opponents--Mr.Blake and Mr.Sexton; and he no doubt cherished hopes arising from the resolute demands for redress uttered by Lord Castletown and other Irish Unionist Peers.

Those hopes were soon dispelled; nothing but much controversy came of the demand for improved financial relations.

Mr.
Gerald Balfour's schemes were more tangible, and in 1897 Redmond announced that the Government's proposal to introduce a measure of Local Government for Ireland should have his support.

The Bill, when it came, exceeded expectation in its scope, and Redmond gave it a cordial welcome in the name of the Parnellites.