§ MR. BARRIETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused to litigants at the county Dublin County Court held at Kilmainham, owing to the sittings there being so arranged that the cases cannot be disposed of and are adjourned from one sitting to another; and if the Recorder of Dublin, as County Court Judge for county Dublin, has not time consistently with the discharge of his duties in the city of Dublin to hear the cases at Kilmainham, will the Lord-Chancellor appoint a deputy to dispose of the arrears now long pending at Kilmainham, and make some arrangement to enable future cases at the court to be properly heard.
(Answered by Mr. Cherry.) I understand that several defended civil cases at Kilmainham were adjourned from the last January sessions to the March sessions. The adjournment was unavoidable owing to the want of time to complete the sessions at Kilmainham, arising from the necessity for opening the sittings in Green Street for criminal and civil business. I understand that under the existing arrangement, having regard to the very large number of sessions which the Recorder holds both in the city and county, it has not been found practicable to arrange the sittings so as to avoid the necessity for such occasional adjournments. But I am informed that it is intended to apply to the Privy Council for liberty to hear the Kilmainham civil business in Green Street Courthouse, with the object of expediting the hearing and disposal of 1336 such cases. The Recorder sits almost continuously during the year, and has a very extensive jurisdiction. The power of appointing a deputy is regulated by statute, and only extends to cases of illness or unavoidable absence.