§ MR. H. A. BRUCEsaid, he begged to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether he was aware that a large proportion of the Irish Judges were incapacitated by age or other infirmities for the full and regular discharge of their duties, and, if so, whether the Government intend to apply any and what remedy? There were six Irish Judges permanently incapacitated from illness—three of whom had been called to the bar at the end of the last century, in the years 1796, 1797, and 1798.
§ MR. HORSMANsaid, that the only official knowledge which the Government had of the circumstances referred to by the hon. Gentleman was derived from the fact that, when a Judge was unable to go circuit a substitute had to be provided, and his salary paid for out of the Consolidated Fund. To the latter part of the question he was unable to give any answer. He could only state that the circumstances had been brought under the notice of the Government, and that they were still under consideration.
§ MR. BRIGHTsaid, he would beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, if he would have the goodness to turn to the Report of the Official Salaries Committee, where he would find an expression of opinion to the effect that the number of Judges in Ireland and Scotland should be reduced, and would take that Report into consideration before appointing any new Judges in Ireland?
§ MR. HORSMANsaid, he would take that in consideration also.