HC Deb 03 December 1888 vol 331 cc836-7
MR. R. POWER (Waterford)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he has received a copy of the Resolution passed unanimously by the Waterford Magistrates, complaining that the late Proclamation was issued without reasonable cause and on insufficient knowledge of the state of the city; and, whether, in future, before issuing such Proclamations, he will ascertain and take into consideration the opinions held by the local magistrates?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN)(who replied) said (Dublin University)

I have received a copy of a Resolution passed at a meeting of certain of the Waterford Magistrates relative to the Proclamation referred to in the Question. The meeting was prohibited because, as stated in the Proclamation, its object was seditious and illegal, and it would, therefore, have been an unlawful assembly. It would be impossible to give any undertaking of the nature suggested in the concluding portion of the Question. But I may say that the Executive is always anxious to consider the opinions of local magistrates with respect to any matter affecting the peace of the locality.

MR. R. POWER

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman know that on this occasion the local magistrates were not consulted at all?

MR. MADDEN

said, he believed that was so.