§ MR. DONAL SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the contract for the printing of the list of voters for the county of Westmeath has not been put up for public competition at the presentment sessions in accordance with the Grand Jury Acts and the decision of the Lord Chief Baron; whether the contract for this year has been given away by the sub-sheriff in his private office, and if he can state at what price the contract has been given and to whom; and, whether he will take steps that in future this contract will be decided in the way prescribed by Act of 1271 Parliament at presentment sessions, and not in the private office of the Grand Jury official.
§ *THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDThere is a grave doubt as to whether the Grand Jury are bound to advertise for tenders for printing, and in the county of Westmeath it has never been the custom to put up such contracts for public competition. If anything illegal has been done it is open to any ratepayer to traverse the presentment for this printing. The Quarter Sessions have no power in the matter. In the negotiations for such contracts the Clerk of the Crown arranges with the sub-sheriff to represent him.