HC Deb 14 March 1901 vol 90 cc1589-90
CAPTAIN DONELAN

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Wexford, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the intention of the Local Government Board for Ireland to hold an inquiry at Wexford with a view to the increasing of the salaries of certain county officials in respect of whom the previous action of the Local Government Board has been set aside at the instance of the county Wexford County Council by the Court of Appeal in Ireland; and if. in view of the importance of the case, he will see that the proposed local inquiry is not held until the judgments in the Court of Appeal and the affidavits on both sides have been printed and circulated as a Parliamentary Return, and that the inquiry is conducted in open court; and whether in view of the expense to which the ratepayers of county Wexford have been already put in upholding their rights in this matter, he will cause the expense of the proposed inquiry to be defrayed out of the funds at the disposal of the Local Government Board.

MR. WYNDHAM

The Local Government Board propose to hold a public inquiry at Wexford in connection with the salaries of certain officials in the county, and have asked the county council to state whether the 2nd April would be a convenient date on which to open the inquiry. The judgments of the Court of Appeal have been sent to the judges for revision before laying them on the Table of the House, and as the judges are at present on circuit some little delay may unavoidably occur before the judgments are returned. If it is possible to have them printed and circulated before the 2nd April, this will be done; but if not the Local Government Board would be prepared, with the concurrence of the county council, to postpone the holding of the inquiry. In answer to the second paragraph, where the Local Government Board hold a local inquiry it is mandatory on the council, under Article 32 (3) of the Schedule to the Application of Enactments Order, 1898, to defray the costs incurred in relation to the inquiry.

MR. BOYLE (Donegal, W.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman grant an inquiry to other count councils?

MR. BOYLE

In cases where the salaries have been increased?

MR. WYNDHAM

The cost will fall on the county councils.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

But in view of the peculiar circumstances attending the Wexford case, will the Local Government Board see that this county council shall not be put to further cost?

MR. WYNDHAM

I will consider that. I do not know if it is possible.