§ MR. H. A. HERBERTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If there be any qualification required for a Lord Lieutenant of an Irish county; and, if it is true that he has recommended to Her Majesty for the Lieutenancy of the county of Clare, a gentleman residing in England who is neither a Justice of the Peace, nor a Grand Juror of the county, and who at present has neither a residence nor a property in that county?
MR. GLADSTONEI hope, Sir, I shall be able to answer my hon. Friend's Question in a manner which will give some satisfaction to him. I am not aware that any legal qualification is required for a Lord Lieutenant of an Irish county. It is true that I have recommended to Her Majesty's Government for the Lieutenancy of the county of Clare my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Tipperary (Colonel White). Whether he is a justice of the peace or a grand juror of the county, I am unable to say, because I have had no opportunity since Notice of the Question was given of speaking to my hon. and gallant Friend on the subject; but I quite agree with my hon. Friend in what I take to be the substance of his Question—namely, that although there were not any legal conditions, yet there were attached to the office substantial conditions which it was most desirable to secure, and, moreover, that next to the qualifications of character and competent ability are the qualifications of property and residence. I will, therefore, state how this matter stands. My hon. Friend is doubtless aware that although the hon. and gallant Member for Tipperary has not been down to the present time a landed proprietor in the county of Clare, his father, Lord Annaly, has hitherto been possessed of large estates in the county. 1683 Lord Annaly has determined to transfer forthwith to his son the absolute possession of those estates. That intention—and I hope it will not be thought a colourable qualification—having been announced to us spontaneously by Lord Annaly as a family arrangement—there still remains the question of residence. But we have also received an intimation that it is his (Colonel White's) intention to reside upon the estate. I believe there is residence for all purposes that are necessary; and consequently we do not hold it would be necessary to inquire as to qualification and into the amount of accommodation which the present residence affords, or whether my hon. and gallant Friend intends putting additions to it. I am not able to say whether the transfer of these estates in point of law has been absolutely completed; but substantially, both as to residence and property, my hon. Friend may consider the transfer as entirely and finally made.