§ MR. P. A. M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that eight months ago the Lord Chancellor of Ireland was requested, by memorial and otherwise, to appoint amongst others Mr. Patrick M'Griskin, of Kiltyclogher, to the Commission of the Peace for the County of Leitrim; has Mr. M'Griskin been appointed up to the present date; has the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Leitrim been communicated with by the Lord Chancellor of Ireland in regard to the appointment of Mr. M'Griskin, and with what result; has the Lord Chancellor considered the case of Mr. M'Griskin without regard to the opinion of the Lord Lieutenant; and how long has the Lord Chancellor been considering the application for the appointment of Mr. M'Griskin to the Commission of the Peace, and when may his Lordship be expected to arrive at a decision?
MR. J. MORLEYThe observations of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland on the particular case mentioned have not yet reached me. I must, however, deprecate the course of bringing the names of individual candidates for the Commission of the Peace before the House. The Lord Chancellor is bound to satisfy himself that a candidate has the requisite qualifications; and it may happen, however excellent the individual may be personally, that some essential qualification may be wanting. It would be clearly unfair to the candidate concerned 916 to publish his case, and I trust the House will not expect me to give detailed answers to such questions.
§ MR. P. A. M'HUGHI desire to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that, under the late Government, Mr. Patrick M'Griskin was offered an appointment on the Commission of the Peace on condition that he would support the Tory candidate at the General Election?
§ MR. P. A. M'HUGHAs the right hon. Gentleman is unable now to answer my question, I beg to give notice that I shall repeat it on an early day.
MR. J. MORLEYIn case the hon. Member places such a question upon the Paper, I warn him that, unless the House considers that a question of this kind ought to be answered, I shall probably refuse to answer it.
§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)I beg to give notice that I shall on some future occasion ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, considering the dissatisfaction which appears to exist, he will consider the advisability of transferring the power of making such appointments from the Lord Chancellor of Ireland to the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster?