HC Deb 26 June 1890 vol 346 cc39-40
MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the Petty Sessions district in which Mr. Thomas W. Russell, who was some since appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the County of Dublin, has elected to serve; whether Mr. Russell has any connection by property or otherwise with the Petty Sessions district in which he has elected to serve, or with any other part of the County of Dublin; and if Mr. Russell is not connected by property or otherwise with the County of Dublin, why he was appointed to the Commission of the Peace for that particular part of Ireland?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am informed that the hon. Member to whom this question refers was appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the County of Dublin in the ordinary course on the recommendation of Lord Monck, the Lieutenant of the county, as a lit and proper person to be a Magistrate, and be elected to sit at the Rathfarnham Petty Sessions. His property and residence are situated in the City of Dublin, and Rathfarnham is a suburb of Dublin, and adjoins the metropolitan district.

MR. CLANCY

Are we to understand that this gentleman has no connection with the County of Dublin?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

There is the connection that I have stated.

MR. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)

Do the Government intend to follow in future the precedent made in this case, and to bring Scotchmen over to Ireland to act as Magistrates?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not know that a better precedent could be followed; but it does not rest with the Government to follow it, appointments of the kind being made on the recommendation of the Lieutenants of counties.

MR. CLANCY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that although the population of Dublin County is overwhelmingly Catholic, the great majority of the Magistrates are Protestant? There being plenty of Roman Catholic gentlemen in the County of Dublin who could be appointed, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House why a gentle- man who is not a Catholic and not a native has been appointed?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No. This matter does net form part of my business.

MR. CLANCY

Will the right hon. Gentleman bring under the notice of the Lord Lieutenant the fact that in Dublin County there are plenty of Catholics competent to act?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I repeat that that is no part of my business.