CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what were the several employments and occupations of Mr. Bodkin prior to and at the 723 time of his recent appointment as County Court Judge of Clare, the qualifications required in cases of such appointments, and the salary attached to the office.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe qualification prescribed by Statute for the position of County Court Judge and Chairman of Quarter Sessions in Ireland is that the person to be appointed shall be a practising barrister-at law of ten years standing at the least, who shall have actually practised ten years in His Majesty's Superior Courts in Dublin, and shall not at the time of his appointment to such office have retired from such practice. Mr. Bodkin possessed this qualification, and I do not propose to make enquiry as to any employment in which he may have engaged outside his professional practice. The salary attached to the office is £1,400 a year.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)Is it a fact that Mr. Bodkin has also been employed by the Freeman's Journal as leader writer during the last three or four years?
§ MR. BIRRELLI have no information as to who writes articles in Irish newspapers. It is a subject to which I am totally indifferent, but I see no reason why a Member of the Bar should not be employed to write leading articles in any respectable newspaper.
§ MR CHARLES CRAIGMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has ascertained if it is a fact that Mr. Bodkin has been chief leader writer—nothing else—for a number of years, and has not held a brief during that period?
§ MR. BIRRELLI believe that is not so, and must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the illiterate gentleman of the county of Clare, who seems to know more about it than I do.
§ MR. MOOREWhat made the illiterate gentleman make an affidavit for the Government at the end of the case?
§ MR. BIRRELLA pint of porter.