HC Deb 07 April 1884 vol 286 cc1794-5
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the intimation given as to the eligibility of Dr. Flannery, of Tubbercurry. county Sligo, being a dispensary medical officer, to act in the Commission of the Peace, Whether it is accurately set forth in the Irish Medical Directory for the present year, that Dr. Richard Barrett, medical officer of the Inchegeala Dispensary, Macroom Union, is a justice of the peace for the county of Cork; that Dr. John W. Busteed, medical officer of the Castle Gregory Dispensary, Dingle Union, is a justice of the peace for the county of Kerry; that Dr. John I. Donovan, workhouse and dispensary medical officer, Skibbereen, is a justice of the peace for the county of Cork; that Dr. Robert S. Hayes, medical officer of Rathmore and Kill Dispensary, Naas Union, is a justice of the peace for the county of Kihlare; that Dr. David Jacob, medical officer of the Maryborough Dispensary, is a justice of the peace for Queen's County; and that numerous other dispensary and workhouse medical officers in Ireland hold the Commission of the Peace; whether provision is made in the Poor Laws, or in the Articles of the Local Government Board, to prevent the performance of the functions of an ex-officio guardian by any Poor Law medical officer appointed to be a justice; and, whether, the Lord Chancellor will reconsider the recommendation of Dr. Flannery's name?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

I beg to ask, whether Dr. George Plunkett, of Farrell, resident in the district, was asked to act as Justice of the Peace?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, it is a fact that several dispensary doctors hold the Commission of the Peace; because, although it was considered advisable to make no law upon such point, it was thought inadvisable that, in future, medical men should be appointed, except where it was absolutely unavoidable. A difficulty was found in removing medical gentlemen who were appointed to the Commission of the Peace before the rule was made in 1872. I am informed, however, that arrangements were made to avoid such appointments in future; and any violation of the rule which has taken place since then must have been through oversight. The Lord Chancellor has, during his term of office, invariably opposed the appointment of medical men. I may say, in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Dublin County (Colonel King-Herman) that several strong cases have been cited previous to the prohibition which has been referred to. From the full information now before me, I find that the rule was not made without consultation, and was upon general consideration of their unsuitability.

MR. SEXTON

I beg to give Notice that I shall call attention to the extreme lameness and want of satisfaction in the reply made by the right hon. Gentleman, and also to the incongruity of the rule made by the Lord Chancellor.

MR. HEALY

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, if he is aware that Dr. Naish is not only a medical officer, and I think a pensioner, but also an ex officio Guardian?

[No reply.]