HC Deb 08 March 1905 vol 142 cc725-6
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in response to his suggestion made on February 24th, 1904, recommendations by way of memorials signed by the principal lay Catholic inhabitants of Pettigo were made to the Duke of Abercorn as Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Donegal for the appointment of two Catholic gentlemen, fully qualified for the position, to the magisterial bench of Pettigo where one only of the seven magistrates is a Catholic, the majority of the population of the district being Catholics; whether he is aware that the Duke of Abercorn did not acknowledge the receipt of this memorial; and, if so, whether he will inquire whether the Duke of Abercorn forwarded the memorial to the Lord Chancellor of Ire-and; and whether any, and, if so, what steps will be taken by the Lord Chancellor of Ireland to make the bench more representative of the religion of the majority of the people in this district.

MR. ATKINSON

My right hon. friend the Member for Dover stated on February 24th,† 1904, that recommendations for the appointment of gentlemen to the Commission of the Peace are made to the Lord Chancellor or the Lieutenant of the County, and that any such recommendations, if made, would be duly considered, I understand that the petty sessions at Pettigo are held once a month and that they are well attended by the local justices, one of whom is believed to be a Catholic. The question of the sufficiency of the local Bench is entirely one for the Lord Chancellor and the Lieutenant of the County, and the matter is not one calling for the intervention of the Executive.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Did the Duke of Abercorn get the memorial and did he forward it to the Lord Chancellor? Why did he not reply to it?

MR. ATKINSON

I cannot say what memorials the Duke of Abercorn receives.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Is it true or not that out of seven magistrates, appointed only one is a Catholic?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Now, Sir, I want to ask a Question which distinctly arises out of the Answer the right hon. Gentleman has not given.

*MR. SPEAKER

The Question on the Paper has been answered.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

The right hon. Gentleman has not given the Answer he ought to have given.

*MR. SPEAKER

The time for Questions is limited. Notice should be given of any further Questions.