§ MR. MOONEY (Dublin County, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the recent Local Government inquiry on the appeal of the Rathmines Commissioners from the decision of the Dublin County Council, the Rathmines Commissioners were represented by the Solicitor-General who raised a point of law upon the validity of which he may, as a Law Officer, have to advise the Local Government Board; and, if so, will he say whether this is in conformity with the usual practice.
§ MR. WYNDHAMIt is a fact that the Solicitor-General represented the Rathmines Urban District Council at the recent inquiry. The Local Government Board has a law officer of its own, and has absolute authority to select what counsel it pleases to represent it in Court on any particular occasion, and to send important cases to any senior counsel it may select. It is only on large questions of law affecting the country generally that the Board submits its own legal adviser's opinion for the consideration of the Law Officers of the Crown. Should the question raised in the case be referred to the latter of course the Attorney-General will alone advise.