§ MR. CALLANasked the Attorney General for Ireland, in the absence of the noble Lord the Chief Secretary, three Questions with reference to the answer of the Chief Secretary on the 18th March, 1870, Whether the revision of the List of the Irish Magistracy, "with a view of clearing the List of the names of the persons who ought not to be there, or who had ceased to be able to act," which was then stated to be "yet going on," has been completed; and, if so, has any effect been given to the said revision in any one county in Ireland; if not completed, what progress, if any, has been made in such revision? whether any effect has been given to the opinion of the then Chief Secretary, "That the Government should use their influence" to have advantage taken of "all fair and proper opportunities to reduce the inequalities," then admitted to exist in the undue disproportion of Protestants to Catholics on the magisterial bench? and, whether the attention of the Irish Executive has been drawn to the character of all the appointments to the Magistracy for the county of Louth since 1867, and the exclusion of Catholics from the magisterial bench, including, amongst others, of a Catholic Peer, the son of the immediate predecessor of Lord Rathdonnell in the Lieutenancy, and one of the largest landed proprietors in the county? He remarked that perhaps the only person who could give full and accurate information in reply to the two first Questions was the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, who had not left London on Friday evening. With respect to the third Question, it was six months since he personally called attention to the sectarian character of all the appointments which were being made in Louth, and the exclusion of Catholics from the Bench, notwithstanding there was a grievous lack of magistrates. Among those excluded, he might name the Hon. Captain Lubbock, and also the Chairman of the Dundalk Town Commissioners, who was recommended by the county magistrates and by the late Chairman.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. DOWSE)said, it was exceedingly inconvenient to put into a Question controversial matters such as this Question contained; and then, in putting it, to make additional statements which were not in the Question, and to mention additional names, because such a course rendered it impossible to obtain full information and to give a satisfactory answer. The Question appeared on the Paper for the first time on Friday, when the Chief Secretary stated in reply that he had not had time to obtain the information required, and personally he was precisely in the same position as the noble Lord—he had nothing to say on the subject. He was unable to give any information beyond this—he believed, the revision had not yet been completed. With respect to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, the hon. Member for Dundalk appeared to be better acquainted with his movements than himself. He had not seen the noble Lord for the last few days, and was not likely to see him for some time.
§ MR. WHALLEYsaid, it appeared the hon. Member for Dundalk desired to increase the number of Roman Catholic magistrates.
§ MR. CALLANasked Mr. Speaker whether the hon. Member was in Order?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, the House was engaged in putting Questions, but the hon. Member was entering into a debate.
§ MR. WHALLEYdeclared he did not wish to go into a debate on the subject, but merely to point out that as regarded the administration of the laws the appointment of magistrates was a matter of the deepest importance.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is quite out of Order.
§ MR. WHALLEYI wish to ask the Attorney General for Ireland, whether, on the appointment of magistrates professing the Roman Catholic religion, any inquiry will be instituted as to the extent to which they recognize the canon law of Rome and the authority of His Holiness the Pope as being supreme over that of the laws of this country which they are appointed to administer? I wish to ask, whether he will cause such inquiry to be made of any Roman Catholic magistrate?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. DOWSE)I have stated that as Attorney General I have nothing 866 to do with the appointment of magistrates; that is in the hands of the Lord Chancellor, and I hope there will never be a Lord Chancellor who will ask any magistrate so absurd a question.
§ MR. WHITWELLasked, whether the subject, as far as regarded the revision of the list of Louth magistrates, might receive attention during the Recess?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. DOWSE)said, no doubt it would, if it became a matter of pressing importance as affecting the good government of the country.