§ MR. FLAVINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it has been brought to his notice that in the county of Westmeath the tenders for the printing of the voters' lists are decided in secret by the sub-sheriff of the county; and can he state whether the contract for the present year has been given to the lowest tender, and at what price?
§ *THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDUnder the 70th Section of 13 & 14 Vict. c. 69, it is the duty of the Clerk of the Crown and Peace to have the lists of voters prepared and printed. For the expenses incurred by him in this work the Grand Jury pay him such sum as they consider proper. He is not bound to advertise for tenders or to take the lowest tender. In point of fact, the Clerk of the Crown and Peace advertises every year for tenders, and last year accepted the lowest tender, but the work was done so unsatisfactorily that the contractor's tender for £61 was not accepted this year, but the tender for £64, being next in amount to his, was accepted. There is no foundation for the statement that the business was transacted by the sub-sheriff in secret or at all in the Sheriff's office.
§ MR. FLAVINasked to whom the contract was declared?
§ *THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDsaid he was not aware.
§ *THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDA Mr. J. G. Tully.