HC Deb 05 May 1874 vol 218 cc1676-7
SIR GEORGE BOWYER

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Mr. Justice Morris having stated to the Member for the County of Wexford that the Irish Judges of Law and Equity had considered the question of Irish appeals, and that their opinion was unanimous against the abolition of the Appellate Jurisdiction of the House of Lords, Whether he is aware of that opinion, and is prepared to give duo weight to it; and, whether Her Majesty's Government is aware that the Right Hon. J. Napier, First Lord Commissioner of the Great Seal holds the same opinion?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Dr. BALL)

, in reply, said, he could not speak as to the unanimity of the Irish Judges; but he was aware that a very large number of them were opposed to the transfer of the Appellate Jurisdiction from the House of Lords. He was also aware that the Irish Judges unanimously passed a resolution, which they communicated through Baron Dowse to Her Majesty's Government, and which was afterwards produced in this House on a Return which he moved for. That resolution stated that if the Appellate Jurisdiction for England was transferred from the House of Lords it was their unanimous wish that the appeals from Ireland should go to the same tribunal as those from England. He believed Sir Joseph Napier's opinion was the same with the majority of the Judges on both questions—namely, in favour of the House of Lords remaining as the Appellate Tribunal, but if it ceased to be so, then, in favour of all appeals from all parts of the United Kingdom going before the same tribunal.