MR. ODOHERTYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state who is the officer responsible for investigating and reporting to the Crown on the eligibility and qualification for the office of high sheriff of a county in Ireland of the names returned to the Lord Lieutenant by the going Judge of Assize in each year out of which the selection is made of the high sheriff for the ensuing year.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe practice is that three names selected by the judges are submitted to the Lord Lieutenant and published in the Press. His Excellency almost invariably selects one name from the list. There is no officer whose special duty it is to inquire into the fitness of the persons named in the judge's lists, but his Excellency is quite ready to receive information on the matter from any reliable source.
§ MR. O'DOHERTYIs there no statutory obligation on the Lord Lieutenant to inquire as to their property qualifications?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am not sure it is a statutory obligation, but as the sheriff may have certain charges to defray, it is proper to ascertain perhaps that he has the necessary means.