MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether any arrangement has yet been made to hold more frequent fixtures of the County and City Courts for the recovery of debts; whether, in Scotland, the Registrar can hear evidence in an undefended civil bill process and make an order thereon; and whether that procedure can be introduced into Ireland to afford the Irish trading public similar facilities of recovering small debts cheaply and expeditiously.
MR. J. MORLKYWith reference to the first paragraph of the question, arrangements have been made for the holding of two Courts for the hearing of Civil Bills in the City of Dublin in each year, commencing with the current year, in addition to the four existing Courts. As regards County Courts, arrangements have also been made for the holding of two Courts for the hearing of Civil Bills, in addition to the two already existing, at the following places—namely, Ballyconnell and Bailieborough, Co. Cavan; Fermoy, Co. Cork; Gort and Tuam, Co. Galway. An additional Court will also be held at Belmullet, Co. Mayo, in addition to the one already held there. The Scotch County Court system and procedure is altogether different from the Irish, and there may be such a practice as that mentioned in the question, but I have no precise information on the subject. It would, I am advised, be inexpedient to withdraw from defendants in Civil Bill processes, whether for rent or other debt, the protection at present afforded by having the case heard and the claim proved before the Judge of the Court. This takes very little time, and relegating the matter to the Registrar might, in various parts of Ireland, lead to abuses.