MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the county court judges
† The Return was as follows: Return showing the District Councils which have adopted the Rural Libraries Act, stating the amount of the rate levied by each Council and the sum which such rate will produce in each instance.792 in Ireland have no employment for more than half of each year, he will consider the expediency of making some arrangement which will prevent the necessity of filling up the vacant county court judgeship of Mayo.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe number of recorders and county court judges in Ireland has been reduced to twenty-one in the manner provided by the 85th Section of the County Officers and Courts Act, 1877. The Executive, therefore, has no power, without legislation, to make arrangements such as suggested.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will give a Return stating in the case of each county court judge in Ireland the number of days on which he sat for the transaction of the business of his court during the year ending the 31st December, 1902, and also stating the amount paid to each such judge for salary and expenses.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will give a Return stating in the case of each judge of the High Court of Justice and of the Court of Appeal in Ireland, the number of days on which he sat for the transaction of the business of his court during the year ending the 31st of December, 1902, and also stating the amount paid to each such judge for salary and expenses.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am not aware of any precedent for a Return of the character indicated in those Questions. I will consider, however, whether a Return on the subject is practicable. The salaries and allowances paid to judges of the superior and county courts are charged on the Consolidated Fund; detailed information in respect of these payments will be found in the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom (House of Commons Paper, No. 234, of the Session of 1902). The reduction of £250,000 a year to which [have referred can be achieved without reducing the judiciary.