§ MR. BROADHURSTasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether the jurisdiction of the Irish County Courts is limited to the sum of £50; and whether, since this limitation of jurisdiction places Irish working men at a disadvantage compared with British workmen, in the case of suing an employer for compensation under the Employers' Liability Act, and compels them to appeal to a higher court, he will introduce a measure to relieve them from incurring greater cost in obtaining justice?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)Sir, the jurisdiction of the Irish County Courts in an action for damages is limited to £50; but the jurisdiction of the English County Court is so also. In both England and Ireland an action under the Employers' Liability Act can be brought in the County Court only; and whether the Employers' Liability Act has or has not the effect of extending the jurisdiction of the County Court, the English and Irish working men are precisely in the same position, and it is quite a misunderstanding to suppose they are differently circumstanced.