§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has come to any decision respecting the conduct of the Clerk of the South Dublin Union, in reference to whom a sworn information has been made, and who is alleged to have withheld the rate books from officials of the National Registration Association, while he allowed those of the Constitutional Club to obtain free access to them?
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANI have to thank the hon. and learned Member for papers on this subject. The Clerk 1636 of the South Dublin Union denies the charges of partiality and neglect of duty made against him. The proper course appears to be that the person or persons considering themselves aggrieved should take proceedings to enforce the penalty imposed by Act of Parliament in cases of refusal to produce these books to parties interested. The mode of procedure is, I understand, a summary one, and the action of the Local Government Board would necessarily be guided by the result.
§ MR. HEALYWhy does not the Local Government Board hold an inquiry, as is usually done in such cases? Is there not a sworn affidavit on one side in this matter, and only the Clerk's word on the other?
§ MR. CAMPBELL -BANNERMANIf this was an ordinary case of some misconduct by an official, that might be the proper proceeding; but, in this case, Parliament has laid down a specific mode of remedy, and that remedy ought to be adopted in the first place; and if in the course of such proceedings anything is proved against the Clerk, then it will be for the Local Government Board to take action.