§ MR. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he is aware that the people of Limerick County, and other parts of Ireland, suffer serious inconvenience on account of the non-attendance of magistrates at Petty Sessions Courts in Ireland; and, if it is a fact that cases which require two magistrates have been adjourned on more than one occasion for want of a second magistrate; if so, whether he will take steps to induce those magistrates who can attend to discharge the duties they have undertaken, or call on them to resign their position?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI understand that it is the fact that considerable inconvenience has arisen from the non-attendance of magistrates at Petty Sessions Courts in Ireland, and that in the County of Limerick on more than one occasion cases which require the attendance of two magistrates have had to be adjourned for want of a second magistrate. I find that the attention of the Irish Executive was directed to this matter during the year 1879, upon perusal of the Statistics of 1878, and that Circulars were then issued to the Lieutenants of counties in Ireland and also to the resident magistrates, with a view to securing the more frequent attendance of magistrates and insuring the more regular holding of Petty Sessions. I am informed that these Circulars have been so far successful that the Returns for the year 1879 will show a better attendance. I have not yet received these Returns, but I hope soon to do so; and if I find occasion I will again call upon the Lieutenants to use their best efforts to remedy, as far as possible, the inconvenience complained of.