HC Deb 06 September 1886 vol 308 cc1320-1
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether there is any rule based on population or area by which the places of holding of revision courts is determined by revising barristers in Ireland, and, if there be any rule or custom other than the convenience of the revising barristers themselves, why is it that only the revision courts are held in the Parliamentary Division of North Monaghan, and that the electors of the Petty Sessions District of Emyvale and Scotstown, having about 1,500 and 900 voters respectively, have no courts held for them, and that the electors are obliged to travel from seven to thirteen miles to the court at Monaghan, with no Railway communication, and wait there during the revision, lasting ten or twelve days; and, whether anything can be done to remove the very considerable inconvenience and expense thus inflicted on the electors of those districts before the next approaching revision?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. HOLMES) (Dublin University)

The places for holding Revision Courts are not determined by the revising barristers, but by the Lord Lieutenant in Council. In selecting the places the convenience of the electors and the suitability of the accommodation are carefully considered, regard also being had to the fact that every additional Court imposes an additional charge on the ratepayers. Careful inquiry was recently made as to the expediency of holding Revision Sessions at Emyvale and Scotstown. It appeared, however, that Monaghan, which is the market town of these districts, was probably the most convenient place for a large proportion of the voters residing therein; and as regards those at a greater distance, the Revising Barrister, by taking their cases first, was able to dispose of them on the first day of the Sessions. In any case, it is too late to make any change before the next revision.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

asked whether a Petition had not been presented in favour of holding a Court at Emyvale?

MR. HOLMES

, in reply, said, that a Petition was presented to the late Lord Lieutenant some time in the month of July, signed by 30 or 40 persons; but, of course, where the voters numbered nearly 1,000 that number could hardly be said to represent the entire voters of the district.