§ MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Sheriff of Galway has appointed Mr. Thomas Lyden to be presiding officer for one of the Clifden districts, in connection with the forthcoming Local Government elections; whether he is aware that Mr. Lyden is the Relieving Officer for the Clifden 640 Union, and at the request of the chairman of the union, Mr. Henry Robinson, J.P., has been actively canvassing on behalf of the said Mr. Robinson, who is a candidate for the County Council; and, whether, under these circumstances, he will direct the Sheriff to make another appointment, and at the same time instruct Mr. Lyden not to take part in the contest?
§ MR. ATKINSONMy attention has not previously been directed to the appointment of Mr. Lyden as presiding officer, or to the facts alleged in the second paragraph. The appointment of presiding officers rests with the returning officer. The Local Government Board will instruct Mr. Lyden not to take any part in the election.