§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the revision of the voters' lists, which took place at Bray on 22nd September, the sitting opened at 10.15 a.m. and the court was occupied until 12.20 reading the jurors' list; that during this time claimants and voters who had been objected to came into Court and many had to go away without being heard; and that the lists contained 2,916 names and the number of objections to be considered was 774, exclusive of official objections; and whether he will arrange that due time will be given next year—at least two days and one night sitting—to properly revise this district.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I have referred this Question to the county court Judge, who informs me that the revision sessions at Bray took place on 1403 22nd September. There was a day sitting, which lasted from 10.15 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a night sitting from 6 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. The county court Judge states that by the close of the night sitting the cases of all voters and claimants who were in attendance had been disposed of, and he has no reason to believe that any claimant had to leave without being heard. He publicly expressed his willingness to continue the revision on any subsequent days if necessary, and was prepared to give as many day or night sittings as might reasonably be required. The political parties were represented by solicitors and agents, and no suggestion in favour of an adjournment was made to the Judge, who understood that all parties were satisfied that the revision should close. The question as to the number of sittings to be arranged is one for the county court Judge to decide, but I gather from his statement that he is prepared to arrange as many day and night sittings as may be necessary to dispose of all the cases.
§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused in the Rathmines revision court this year; and whether, seeing that nearly one-half of the voters in South Dublin reside within the Rathmines polling district, that in the other half of South Dublin five revision courts are held, and in addition a portion of South Dublin is revised in Bray, and three revising barristers are employed in this work, he will arrange that at least another revision court shall be established next year in Rathmines.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I have not been made aware that any inconvenience was caused in the Rathmines revision court this year. I have no information as to the number of voters in the Rathmines polling district, but, taking the population as a basis, the ratio of the voters in Rathmines and the remainder of South Dublin would be as two to five. Five revision courts in addition to Rathmines are held in South Dublin, and ten revision courts in North Dublin, and three assistant revising barristers are employed to assist the permanent revising barrister in the revision for the whole 1404 county. The permanent revising barrister informs me that the establishment of a second revision court at Rathmines would, in his opinion, be inconvenient to all persons engaged in the revision. The matter, however, is one for the decision of the Lord-Lieutenant in Council, and if any of the persons interested desire the establishment of an extra revision court, they should proceed by memorial to the Lord-Lieutenant, when the matter would be fully considered.