HC Deb 26 February 1901 vol 89 cc1207-8
SIR THOMAS ESMONDS (Wexford, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the result of the appeals of the county Wexford County Council against the orders of the Local Government Board for Ireland increasing the salaries of certain county officials in county Wexford.

MR. WYNDHAM

I am informed that the Court of Appeal has reversed the decision of the Court of King's Bench, and quashed the Orders made by the Local Government Board.

MR. FLAVIN

What effect will the judgment have on other counties in Ireland?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order ! That does not arise out of the question.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the decision of the Irish Court of Appeal, delivered on the 25th instant in the case of the Wexford County Council against the Local Government Board (Ireland), will apply to all cases in which the wishes and decisions of other county councils in Ireland were similarly overborne by the Local Government Board.

MR. WYNDHAM

The judgment of the Court of Appeal only decides the four cases from county Wexford. If there are other cases in which county councils are dissatisfied with the awards of the Local Government Board the councils will, no doubt, act on legal advice as to their position under all circumstances.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Will the right hon. Gentleman not accept the decision, and thus refrain from putting the county councils to the expense of appeals?

MR. WYNDHAM

The decision is a very important one, and the Local Government Board would do well to take a few days to consider it.