HC Deb 17 April 1907 vol 172 cc1001-2
MR. T. L. CORBETT

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what professional qualifications were respectively possessed by the following heads of offices in the High Court in Ireland at the time of their appointments to their present positions, viz, the Registrar to the Court of Appeal, the Accountant General, the present chief clerk to the Lord Chancellor, the chief clerk to the Master of the Rolls, the chief clerk to Mr. Justice Barton, and the Registrar of the Land Judge's Court; whether he is aware that none of the following heads of offices in the High Court in Ireland ever practised either as a barrister or solicitor, but were promoted from subordinate positions on the staff, viz., the Registrar of the Court of Appeal, the Accountant General, the three chief clerks in Chancery, and the Registrar of the Land Judge's Court; and will he state the reasons why men entering the Supreme Court (Ireland) service by open competition are considered ineligible for promotion to be heads of offices, while those who, prior to the passing of The Judicature Act, 1877, entered through patronage and without professional qualifications have frequently been promoted to these posts.

I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can give a list of the posts on the Chancery side of the High Court in Ireland above the rank of first-class clerk for which statute requires that the occupants thereof shall have professional qualifications, and also a list of those for which statute does not require such qualifications.

MR. BIRRELL

These two Questions concern matters which are not under the control of the Irish Government; but in courtesy to the hon. Member I have referred the Questions to the Lord Chancellor, and have received answers from him which, with the hon. Member's permission, I will have circulated with to-night's Votes.† The Answers are of considerable length.

MR. J. MACVEAGH

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of limiting the power of patronage in Irish public departments, and throwing more posts open to public competition?

MR. BIRRELL

That is under consideration.