HC Deb 22 June 1903 vol 124 c82
MR. CONDON (Tipperary, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the fact that in the majority of the boroughs in Ireland, since the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act of 1840, the mayors have been acting as Justices of the Peace without being required to take the judicial oath, and that the mayor of Clonmel upon the accession of his present Majesty declined to take the judicial oath, a course followed by the present mayor, which was legal in accordance with the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, which has, however, subsequently been changed, and in view of the inconvenience caused by the action of the Irish Executive in this matter, the Government will take steps to obtain a decision of a competent Court of Law upon the point in question, as requested by a resolution of the Clonmel Corporation communicated to him in April last.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

At my right hon. friend's request I will reply to this Question. I do not think that the hon. Member's statement is quite accurate in its details, but I concur with him in thinking that it is desirable to have the question of law mentioned raised and determined in a Court of Law, if a convenient opportunity should present itself.

MR. CONDON

I acted as mayor for six years. Why was not action taken in my case?

MR. ATKINSON

The point was not raised until recently.

MR. CONDON

I raised it myself last year by refusing to take the oath.

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order.

MR. CONDON

The right hon. Gentleman contradicted my statement.