§ MR. HEALYasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether there was any truth in the report of the intended resignation of many of the Irish Judges; and whether, before the passing of the 1st clause of the Bill, the Government would inform the House of the new appointments? Further, he wished to know whether it was a fact that Mr. Murphy, a son-in-law of Judge Keogh, was likely to be appointed? Also what reply, if any, had been given to the unanimous Memorial sent by the Irish Judges to the Government, declaring that the Bill in its present form was calculated to seriously impair the confidence of the Irish people in the maintenance of the integrity of the judicial system?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)I can only say that I am unable to answer that series of Questions without further information.
§ MR. HEALYsaid, he begged to repeat the Question to the Prime Minister. He wished to know what answer had been given to the declaration of the Irish Judges; whether any resignations, or notices of intended resignations, among the Irish Bench had been received; and, whether it was intended to appoint Mr. Justice Keogh's son-in-law, or any other creature of the Government? [Cries of "Order!"]
MR. GLADSTONESir, with regard to the first Question of the hon. Gentleman, I shall be much obliged to him if he will put it upon the Paper, because my memory does not serve me as to the channel through which the Memorial has reached the Government, or the formal steps that have been taken with respect to it. Of course, the hon. Member will 1940 have a proper answer if the Question be put on the Paper. With respect to the resignation of the Irish Judges, I am very much in the same position as my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General for Ireland, for I have no information on the subject, and I am, I must say, in a somewhat incredulous frame of mind, up to the present time, with regard to it; because I think it is probable—indeed, it is highly probable—that a rumour of that kind has arisen from the fact that Her Majesty has been pleased to approve of the appointment of an Irish Judge to the position of a Law Lordship in the House of Lords, thereby creating a vacancy on the Irish Bench. As to filling up that vacancy, no communications have taken place with the Lord Lieutenant; but I am quite sure that when any decision is taken on the matter, it will be taken with a due sense of its importance, and with a careful regard to all the considerations involved.
§ MR. HEALYasked, whether the Government would inform the House, before Clause 1 of the Bill was passed, what person had been appointed to fill the vacancy?
MR. GLADSTONEThat is a matter primarily for the consideration of the Irish Government, and especially of the Viceroy; and we have had no communications with them on the subject.