§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland how many Resident Magistrates, before the present Government took office, were commissioned to act in more than one county; how many were so commissioned before 1881; and will he give a Return showing the practice in this matter of successive Administrations since the original creation of Resident Magistrates, and the number of counties in which such gentlemen can now adjudicate?
§ MR. MADDENThe Resident Magistrates are commissioned to act in more than one county, but they only act in their own district unless their services are required elsewhere by the public necessities.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWhere is the difficulty? If we can extort the information, I think we shall be able to show that, under the present Government, there are Resident Magistrates commissioned to act in half a dozen counties, and that the practice is growing. If Thom's Directory were taken for a series of years, I presume it would show the whole thing?
§ MR. MADDENAs far as my knowledge goes I feel very great difficulty, because it would be necessary to go back to the Act of 1831. I am not aware that materials exist for giving the information, and if the hon. and learned Member will move for a Return in a tangible shape I will ascertain if the materials exist for supplying it.
§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that a Resident Magistrate is 984 always commissioned to act in counties coterminous with those in which he is stationed?
§ MR. MADDENYes, that is quite correct.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman give a Return for the 10 years before 1881, and the 10 years since?
§ MR. MADDENI will inquire.