§ Mr. MELDONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the Lord Lieutenant has approved of the appointment by the Magistrates of the Petty Sessions district of Borris, in the county of Carlow, of James Devine as Petty Sessions Clerk; and, whether there is not a regulation prohibiting the appoint- 1350 ment of a person more than 40 years of age to the office of Clerk of Petty Sessions; and, if so, is it not a fact that James Devine is over that age, and therefore ineligible?
§ Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, the appointment of James Devine as Petty Sessions Clerk at Borris has not been approved. There is a regulation against the appointment of a person more than 40 years of age to a Petty Sessions clerkship, which has not been altered, and I understand that the person in question is above that age. But it has always been customary to allow exceptions to that limit in the case of persons whose professional qualifications or past experience in the public service might warrant it. I am not at present sure how far the case in question would come under these exceptions; but I should be always anxious to consult the wishes of the local magistrates in matters connected with these appointments, so far as could be done consistently with, the interests of the public service.