§ MR. BROADHURST (Nottingham, W.)asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it is true that a Judge and jury in the new Law Courts were recently placed in danger by reason of the defective material and workmanship of the principal part of the roof of the Chamber in which they were sitting; and, if so, whether he will cause an examination to be made to ascertain whether similar danger exists in other parts of the building?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET) (Dublin University)On April 11th a communication was made to the Office of Works to the effect that the roof of one of the Law Courts appeared to be in a dangerous condition, and an inspection was immediately made, with the result that it was found that there had been a shrinkage of one of the beams which was used. in building the roof. Iron supports were at once fixed, and business was resumed in the Court on the 13th instant. The examination has since been proceeded with in the other Courts; but up to the present no cause for further apprehension has been discovered. There will, however, be undertaken during the Long Vacation a more complete and minute investigation of the building than would be possible while the Courts are sitting.