§ MR. J. HAMMOND (Carlow)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish Executive Government have frequently allowed Chairmen of Asylum Boards to give what is known as a casting vote; whether they have done so recently in the case of the Limerick Asylum Board, although they had disallowed such vote in any case previously to the present month; whether they had been advised during the present month that such vote should be sanctioned by statute or other competent authority in order that it be valid; and whether the fact that the custom has prevailed so long can be regarded as sufficient authority to justify the Chairman of the Carlow Asylum Board in giving a casting vote on the occasion of the election of a medical assistant in the last month; and, if not, will he take any steps to make such casting vote of the Chairman legal?
MR. J. MORLEYI understand that on occasions casting votes have been given by Chairmen of Asylum Boards, apparently acting on the belief that such power was vested in them. At the recent meeting of the Carlow Asylum Board the Chairman seems to have acted also under this belief. The legal power of giving a casting vote appears to have been, for the first time, questioned on the last-mentioned occasion, when the Government were advised that the power did not exist.
§ MR. J. HAMMONDWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to make such a custom on the part of the Chairman legal?