The EARL of MOUNTCASHELLmoved for—
A Return of the total Amount of Rents received by Agents appointed under the Court of Chancery in Ireland; specifying to what Accounts the same are paid, whether to the Credit of Suits pending, to the Credit of Minors, Lunatics, or others, from the 1st of January, 1846, to the 1st of January, 1847.
The LORD CHANCELLORsaid, there could be no objection to furnishing the information the noble Lord required, but it could only be obtained by some officer of the Court of Chancery in Ireland looking through all the causes brought before that court during the last year, which would be a very difficult duty, involving enormous labour, and the results of the investigation could not be rendered available during the present Session.
The EARL of MOUNTCASHELLdid not wish to give any useless trouble to any of the officers of the Court of Chancery in Ireland, but he was most anxious to ascertain what amount of property was under the control of that court. He thought it very important, under existing circumstances, that Parliament and the country should be informed what were the ways and means of Ireland; and it was with the view of obtaining that information that he moved for this return. He was, however, ready to take any other course which might be more convenient, and which the noble and learned Lord would suggest.
The LORD CHANCELLORthought the noble Earl would obtain his object if he called upon the Accountant General of the Court of Chancery in Ireland to state from his books the receivers' balances for the last year.
The MARQUESS of CLANRICARDEobserved, that no rents were paid at present in Ireland, and therefore the return for the last six months would be nil.