§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that a memorial, signed by seventeen members of the board of guardians and rural district council of Kenmare, was sent to the Local Government Board on January 30th, assigning reasons why a public inquiry should be held relative to the case of a fever patient named Cottar who died recently in the union; can he state on what grounds the inquiry has been refused; and whether, in view of the charges made against the Rev. Mr. Duggan, Protestant rector of Kilgarvan parish, steps will be taken to hold an inquiry immediately.
§ MR. ATKINSONSuch a memorial has been received. The grounds upon which the memorialists urged the Local Government Board to hold an inquiry on oath were that the Rev. Mr. Duggan had gratuitously afforded medical advice to a poor person named Cottar. As this clergyman is not in any way under the jurisdiction of the Local Government Board, they were advised that the matter was not one in which they could intervene. Moreover, there was nothing to show that the rev. gentleman had done anything illegal or actionable, rendering him liable to a penalty under 21 and 22 Vic., Cap. 90, Sec. 40.
§ MR. BOLANDBut seeing that this man died from fever and not pneumonia and the rev. gentleman has asked for an inquiry, cannot one be held?
§ MR. ATKINSONThe Local Government Board have no power to hold an inquiry.