§ MR. HEALYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, What answer has been given to the memorial of the Irish Judges protesting against the abolition of trial by jury in Ireland; whether any resignations in the Irish judiciary have been sent in; and, if he can state by whom the two vacant judgeships will be filled?
MR. GLADSTONEI cannot find on inquiry that in any Department there was any formal communication of the Memorial of the Irish Judges to the Government. There has been no answer to that Memorial or any correspondence upon it that has come to the knowledge of the Government. It was not forwarded to us in any way. As to resignations in the Irish Judiciary, there is no resignation properly so called; but there has been a removal by the promotion of Mr. Justice Fitzgerald, which creates a vacancy, of course. As to the vacancy in a Judgeship recently caused by death, the regular course is that the Viceroy communicates his view on the subject, when he has made up his mind, 78 to the Prime Minister, in order that the Queen's pleasure may be taken in filling up the vacancy. I have not yet received any communication from the Viceroy on the subject.
§ MR. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that there is no truth in the statement relative to Mr. Baron Fitzgerald, for it was to that my Question was principally directed?