§ MR. J. ROSS (Londonderry)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, is he aware that from the year 1871 Sheriff's in Ireland were paid their expenses incurred in the administration of the Jury Acts by Grand Jury Presentment, under the 16th Section of the Juries Act (Ireland) 1871; that it has lately been decided that as Sheriff's are not expressly named in the Section that it does not apply, and that there is no legal method of reimbursing them for the necessary outlay in the administration of the Acts; and, whether he would have any objection to a Bill to include Sheriffs among the persons referred to in Section 16 of the Juries Act (Ireland) 1871?
MR. J. MORLEYSince 1871, Sheriff's were paid the expenses referred to in the question under the Section mentioned. The Court of Appeal has decided that these payments were without legal warrant. Sheriffs receive a salary under the Grand Jury Acts in 965 respect of expenses incurred by them. No doubt Sheriffs ought to be indemnified for any expenses incurred by them, which the salary received does not meet. Before any legislation is attempted it will be necessary to ascertain whether, and if so, to what extent, the salary which is given to meet such expense is inadequate, so that Sheriffs may not be paid twice over for the same work by the County.