§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask MR. Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that the Local Government Board have ordered the Kerry County Council to pay to their Secretary, Mr. R. Fitzgerald, who is a transferred officer from the old Grand Jury, previously in receipt of a full legal salary of only £293 per year as Secretary and Acting Treasurer, a salary of £1,000 for the year ending 31st March, 1900, although the Secretary to the Local Government Board for Ireland only receives £900 per year; whether Mr. Fitzgerald was in receipt of any legal emoluments or statutory fees in addition to his salary; and, if so, what was the amount per annum; and whether he can state on what grounds the Local Government Board ordered the Kerry County Council to increase the salary from £293 to £1,000 for the year ending 31st March, 1900.
§ MR. ATKINSONMr. Fitzgerald is a transferred officer from the Grand Jury. His salary as secretary to that body, exclusive of statutory fees and other emoluments, was £293 a year, but his total salary and emoluments, as a reference to Parliamentary Return No. 237 of the session of 1898 will show, amounted to £987 per annum. The duties of the post are very difficult and complicated owing to the large number of separate charges due to railway guarantees, etc., and for his increased duties under the Local Government Act Mr. Fitzgerald only receives £13 per annum, that is to say the difference between £987 and £1,000. I may mention that the County Council were almost evenly divided on the question 57 whether MR. Fitzgerald's salary should be £800 or £1,000, and that they decided to offer him a salary at the former rate.
§ MR. DALYCan the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that the Secretary of the Local Government Board, who has to deal with all the Irish counties, only gets £900 a year?
§ MR. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the County Council by a large majority fixed the salary at £500 a year?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice.