HC Deb 11 February 1823 vol 8 c98
Mr. Hume

referred to the manner in which the two exchequers of Great. Britain and Ireland had been consolidated and united some years ago. He saw no reason why the same plan should not be pursued with regard to all the other departments, as was now the case with Scotland. A paper laid upon the table last year showed the enormous salaries of an immense number of persons dependent upon the lord lieutenant of Ireland, nearly the whole of which expense might be saved, if the system he recommended were adopted. He should hereafter bring forward a proposition to remove the lord lieutenancy, and all offices connected with it, to London. He was anxious, particularly, to call the attention of the House to the office of vice-treasurer of Ireland, a useless expense of between 7,000l. and 8,000l. a year, and for which nothing was done. The right hon. gentleman who now filled that sinecure passed half his time in that House, voting for ministers, and one quarter of it in Derry; devoting scarcely a month in the year to the public service. In a motion for the abolition of the vice-treasurer-ship, he felt assured of the support of some of the friends of the ministry; but above all, of the president of the Board of Control, who had declared this a most needless and expensive appointment. He would move for Copies of any Correspondence between the Chief Secretary for Ireland and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, respecting the office of Vice-treasurer.—Ordered.