§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, while members of the English Judiciary do not suspend the business of the courts even for the purpose of attending the Royal levees, Judges in Ireland suspend the sittings of the Irish courts for the whole day on which a Viceregal levee takes place, to the delay, inconvenience, and expense of suitors and witnesses; and, whether some arrangement could be made by which the Judges could manifest their respect for the representative of the Sovereign in Ireland in a manner which would not entail serious loss on suitors and interfere with the administration of the law confided to them as servants of the Crown.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) It is the practice of the Judges not to sit at the Four Courts on the day of the Lord-Lieutenant's first levee in each year. As long notice of the date is always given, and as the practice of adjourning the Courts on that day is long established and well known, there is neither loss to suitors nor interference with the administration of the law by this custom, with which, even if it were possible or desirable to limit the discretion of the Judges, there is no reason to interfere.