HC Deb 13 April 1899 vol 69 c982
CAPTAIN DONELAN () Cork, E.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that many complaints have been made relative to the defective condition of the voters' registers in connection with the recent Local Government elections in Ireland; and whether, in view of the fact that numbers of duly qualified electors were consequently disfranchised, steps will be taken to secure more correct registers in future.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD W. BALFOUR,) Leeds Central

I am aware that some complaints have been made to the effect stated in the first paragraph. The matter, however, is not one in which the Government have any power to interfere, but I should be rather inclined to hope that the majority of the mistakes that have been made are due to circumstances which will not recur in future.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

Who is responsible for these inaccuracies?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

Different persons in different places. It must be remembered that the circumstances were somewhat novel.