MR. RICHARD M. DANE (Fermanagh, N.)I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether in cases of parishes in Ireland now containing fit and secure buildings for the safe custody of their records, the Master of the Rolls in Ireland, under the special power to deal with such given him by the fifth section of The Parochial Records (Ireland) Act, 1876, 39 and 40 Vic, c. 58, is empowered upon application made to him to order that records that have been removed by him to the Record Office in Dublin may be returned to and permitted to remain in the care of the rector, vicar, or curate (as the case may be) of such parishes, upon being satisfied that lit and safe accommodation has been provided for such records and, if not, will the Irish Government take steps to initiate legislation giving the Master of the Rolls in Ireland such power, and thus rendering such records more easy of inspection by interested parties?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDUnder the Parochial Records Act of 1876, no power is given to the Master of the Rolls to return to the parish records removed to the Public Record Office after the passing of the 521 Act. He is empowered to return only such as were removed before that date. The Deputy Keeper of the Records is of opinion that the public custody of these records has the advantage over local custody of greater security and of accessibility and economy to persons requiring certificates, and it is not proposed to introduce legislation in the direction suggested.