§ MR. MONKasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he is prepared to state whether a gentleman having neither a residence nor property in Ireland is qualified to serve the office of High Sheriff of an Irish county; if such person cannot be compelled to serve as Sheriff, whether the Government are prepared to take means to relieve any gentleman who has this year been so appointed and peremptorily required by the Lord Lieutenant to serve as such Sheriff, in accordance with the statement made by the Chief Secretary; and, whether there is any objection to produce the Correspondence between the Government and the gentlemen nominated as Sheriffs of Louth and Westmeath for the present year?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONreplied that he had no hesitation in saying that a gentleman having neither residence nor property in Ireland could not be compelled to serve the office of high sheriff in that country. He had, however, on the other hand, no doubt that in the case of a gentleman in this position having accepted such office, he might be held to be legally qualified to serve. In reference to the second part of the hon. Member's inquiry the Government would be prepared, in the event of any injustice being committed to a gentleman in connection with this office, to take the most effectual means in their power to relieve him from his difficulty. He, however, did not think it at all desirable to lay the Correspondence upon the Table, all such Correspondence being considered undesirable to produce.