§ MR. MELDONI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether it is true that serious inconvenience has been caused to suitors and others by reason of the temporary manner in which the registrars of the County Courts in Ireland have been appointed; whether the Government have considered the desirability of making definite arrangements with such registrars; and, what steps have been taken, or are about to be taken, to secure the services of properly qualified registrars on such terms and conditions as will enable the County Court Judges in Ireland practically to exercise their extended jurisdiction, and to give effect to the provisions of "The County Officers and Courts (Ireland) Act, 1878?" I beg also to add a Question which I think right should be put—What is the nature of the temporary arrangement which at present exists under which the registrars are paid?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. GIBSON)I am not aware that there has been any serious inconvenience caused to suitors or others by the manner in which the County Court registrars have been appointed. The present registrars are, I believe, well qualified gentlemen, and are selected and appointed by the County Court Judges themselves, and approved by the Lord Chancellor. In addition, those Judges can avail themselves of the services of the Clerks of the Peace at all seasons of the year, and those officers are available to take accounts and prosecute inquiries when directed. The remuneration of the registrars is arranged by the Treasury, with the approval of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and the present system of payment was, I believe, not intended to be permanent. At the close of the present financial year it will be considered whether any and what change shall be made therein. With regard to this last question, I have to say that the present scale of payment of the registrars of Irish County Courts is two guineas a-day for every day the Court sits, and an allowance of a guinea a-day for hotel expenses.