§ MR. MEAGHER (Kilkenny, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Catholic population of the County Kilkenny at the last Census was 74,830, or thereabouts, and the population of Protestant and other religions was but 3,747, making but one-twentieth 773 of the population, that the number of Catholic magistrates is forty-six as compared with seventy-five Protestant magistrates, and that out of the nineteen deputy-lieutenants of the county there is but one Catholic; and whether he will see his way to have an equitable number of Catholic magistrates appointed for the county.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Catholic population of the county of Kilkenny at the last Census is correctly stated. The number of persons who were not returned as Catholics was 4,329. There are 125 magistrates on the roll for the county, of whom sixty-nine are believed to be Protestants and fifty-six Catholics. Since the present Government came into office twenty-eight magistrates have been appointed, of whom nine are Protestants and nineteen Catholics. There is no official record of the religions of deputy-lieutenants.