§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether there has been any instance since the passing of the Parliamentary Elections Act of 1868, or the Municipal Corporations Act of 1882, in which a Law Officer of the Crown appeared as counsel for one of the parties to an election petition; and whether he will state why the Irish Solicitor General appeared for the petitioners in the case of the petition in the Arran Quay Ward, Dublin, a few days ago, in which were involved charges of both corrupt and illegal practices on the part of petitioners and counter-petitioners.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON, Londonderry, N.)There are instances of the kind mentioned in Ireland and Scotland. I have not been able to ascertain whether or not similar instances occurred in England. The Solicitor General for Ireland did not violate any of the conditions on which he holds his appointment by appearing in the case referred to.
§ MR. DILLONIn consequence of the answer, I shall raise the question on the right hon. Gentleman's salary.