HC Deb 13 July 1882 vol 272 cc260-1
MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that the Catholics of Tyrone number about two hundred and sixteen thousand, and those of other religions about ninety-one thousand; whether in this county there are nearly one hundred and thirty magistrates, of whom only two are Catholics; and, whether, as there are many Catholics in the county qualified to act as magistrates, the Government will consider the advisability of recommending the Lord Chancellor to select them for future appointments?

MR. TREVELYAN

The Roman Catholic inhabitants of Tyrone number under 110,000, and those of other religions number 87,916. The total number of County Magistrates is, I have reason to believe, correctly estimated. The Government does not interefere in the appointments of County Magistrates. They are made by the Lord Chancellor, who usually acts on the recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant of the county. Only one Roman Catholic gentleman has been recommended by the Lord Lieutenant of the County Tyrone for the commission of the peace this year, and he has been appointed.