§ MR. P. A. M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether a petition has been presented to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland in December, 1896, by the assistants to the clerks of the Crown and Peace and local registering authorities praying that they might have their appointments made permanent, in accordance with the provisions of the 9th section of the County Officers and Courts (Ireland) Act, 1877; has the Lord Chancellor considered the petition; and can he state whether the prayer of the petitioners has been or will be granted?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe petition referred to in the Question was received, but the Lord Chancellor has not seen his way to accede to the application which it contains.