§ MR. P. A. M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether all aldermen and councillors in the boroughs of Clonmel, Drogheda, Kilkenny, Sligo, and Waterford will, under the provisions, of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, vacate their seats before the elections on 25th November next; (2) by what date must the new borough registers be revised and by what date must the revised registers be published; (3) is he aware that most elective public bodies in Ireland are in favour of having the elections once in three years, and will that system be adopted; (4) and will he inform the House how casual vacancies occurring through death, resignation, or disqualification are to be filled up under the now Act?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURUnder the provisions of the Bill aldermen and councillors of the boroughs mentioned will not vacate their seats until the middle of January next. The Local Government register will be printed and come into force along with the Parliamentary register—that is to say, on the 1st January. Many of the local bodies are favourable to the triennial system, but the majority of them are not in favour of its being applied compulsorily. As regards the last paragraph, I must refer the honourable Member to the provisions of clause 91 of the Bill.