§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state who it is that elects the members of the Irish Lights Board in Ireland; and whether, after the passing of the Local Government (Ireland) Bill, the Irish Lights Board in Ireland will be placed under the control of the County Councils, or some other Irish Department?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe Commissioners of Irish Lights are elected by co-option as vacancies arise, and the remaining five consist of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the High Sheriff, and three aldermen elected by the Dublin Corporation. The superin- 1194 tendence and management of Irish lighthouses, etc., were vested by Section 389 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, in a corporation established by an Irish Act of George III., cap. 19, and the name of this body was changed by the Dublin Port Act of 1867 to the "Commissioners of Irish Lights." The reply to the second paragraph is in the negative.
§ MR. J. G. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)The expression co-option, I take it, means that the Commissioners elect themselves.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURYes, it is according to law.
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Does the right honourable Gentleman think Belfast is properly represented?
§ [No Reply.]
§ MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick's)Will the Government deal with the constitution of the Board?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI can add nothing to my answer.