§ MR. T. A. DICKSONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that in the county of Fermanagh there is not a Methodist, Catholic, or Presbyterian magistrate; and, if so, will the Government direct the attention of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland to this grievance, that it may be remedied?
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked, Whether the whole of the Protestant population numbered only 37,000, whilst the Roman Catholic population exceeded 47,000; whether there were only 1,700 Presbyterians, and less than 5,000 Methodists; whether special regard to the appointment of magistrates would be paid to the preponderance of the Catholic population?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe religious persuasions of gentlemen holding the Commission of the Peace is not anywhere officially recorded; but I believe that it is not a fact that there is no magistrate in the county of Fermanagh belonging to the persuasions named in the Question. The Methodist and Presbyterian Bodies are represented—it is true only to a very small extent—among the local Justices, while the Resident Magistrate is a Roman Catholic. I shall be glad to draw the Lord Chancellor's attention to the Question which has been put to me. In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Dungarvan, I shall be glad to lay the facts before the Lord Chancellor and call his attention to the subject.