HC Deb 23 February 1904 vol 130 cc733-4
Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that magistrates in Canada are permitted to sign their names in French to official documents; and, if so, will he explain why Mr. McDonagh Mahony, of Cahirciveen, is prevented from signing in Irish, though that is the language of his country and is spoken daily by more than three-fourths of the people amongst whom he lives.

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

My right hon. friend has requested me to reply to this Question. The Irish Government has no information that the fact is as alleged in the first part of the Question. In answer to the second inquiry I have nothing to add to my reply to the similar Question of the 11th instant. †

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

And has the Lord Chancellor power to remove a magistrate for signing his name in Irish?

MR. ATKINSON

He has done so because this gentleman persists in over-riding the Statute.

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

But has he acted illegally? The Statute says that English shall be the official language in the body of the documents, but it says nothing about the signature.

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

Does the Chief Secretary really think that in a case of this kind a magistrate should be removed because he signs his name in Irish? It is ridiculous.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rolls of Parliament have been signed in Irish for some years?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order! order! The Question on the Paper has been answered.