HC Deb 03 February 1902 vol 102 cc190-1
MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Lord Lieutenant has declined te appoint as High Sheriff of Dublin the gentleman nominated first on the list for that office, by the Corporation of that city; if so, what are the reasons for this step; and is there any other instance since the passage of the Act of 1876 of the choice of the Corporation being overridden.

MR. WYNDHAM

The three names for the Dublin City Shrievalty having been submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Privileges Act, 39 and 40 Vict. cap. 76, Sec. 3, the Lord Lieutenant selected the second person named on the list, who appeared to him the best qualified to fill the office. There are several precedents for the course which the Lord Lieutenant has taken.

MR. NANNETTI

Is the right hon. Gentlemen aware that the first name on the list was that of a working man whose character is second to none in the City of Dublin?

MR. WYNDHAM

The hon. Member is in error, if he thinks that the exercise of the Lord Lieutenant's discretion involves any imputation on the character of either of the two gentlemen who were not selected.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Then why did he exercise it?

MR. NANNETTI

May we take it, that it was because he was a working man that this man was passed over?

MR. WYNDHAM

No, Sir.