HC Deb 09 September 1887 vol 321 cc6-7
MR. CLANCY(for Mr. FLYNN) (Cork, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will furnish a Return of the number of gentlemen appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the County of Dublin since the present Lord Chan- cellor came into Office, stating the religion of each; and, if the Lord Chancellor, in making such appointments, is carrying out the promise made by the Government, that a proper proportion of Catholics should be appointed, having regard to the religion of the people of the district for which the appointment is made?

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)

(who replied) said: The number of ordinary magistrates appointed for the County of Dublin by the Lord Chancellor on the recommendation of Lord Monck, Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of the county, during his present term of office, is 21. It is not usual to give a Return showing the religious denomination of individual magistrates, but only in the aggregate. There would be no objection to give a Return of the names and addresses of the gentlemen so appointed. The Lord Chancellor has no knowledge of the alleged promise referred to in the latter portion of the Question. He is, however, always glad to consider the names of any properly qualified Roman Catholics that are submitted to him.

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Lord Chancellor has appointed any magistrate in County Dublin except upon the recommendation of Lord Monck; and whether he can state in the aggregate the creeds of the persons appointed?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

No, Sir; I cannot state the creeds in the aggregate. I believe that no appointments were made except on the recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant of the county.

MR. CLANCY

Did the Lord Chancellor, since his appointment, appoint a single Catholic in County Dublin?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

Will the hon. Member put that question down on the Paper?