§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of appointments to the magisterial bench in County Longford made on the recommendation of the Lieutenant of the County since 1st April, 1899; whether it is usual before submitting the names of appointees to inquire into their qualifications and eligibility; how many of these appointments were Roman Catholics and how many Protestants; and can he state the relative proportions between the Protestant and Roman Catholic population of the county.
§ (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Five gentlemen were appointed to the magistracy for the Comity Longford since April, 1899, of whom two are Roman Catholics, two are Episcopalian Protestants, and one is a Methodist. The qualifications and eligibility of all persons about to be recommended for appointment are considered in the first instance by the Lieutenant of the County, and, subsequently, by the Lord Chancellor. It would appear from the last census that about 91 per cent. of the population of the County Longford is Roman Catholic.