§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether, during the absence of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, Lords Justices are appointed for the government of the country while the Lord-Lieutenant is out of the Kingdom of Ireland, and are duly sworn into office for that purpose, and that a Roman Catholic is ineligible for the position of a Lord Justice; and, having regard to the fact that in the absence of the Sovereign from the realm no appointment of Lords Justices has for a considerable time taken place, on what ground is the appointment of Lords Justices for the government of Ireland during the absence from that country of the Lord-Lieutenant regarded as necessary, more especially as from those appointments persons holding the faith of the great majority of the people of Ireland are excluded.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. The practice of appointing one or more Lords Justices for the government of Ireland during the absence of the Lord-Lieutenant is of ancient origin, dating back, as it does, to the fourteenth century at least. If Lords Justices were not so appointed there would be no one in Ireland possessing the power to exercise the prerogative of mercy in criminal cases or to perform other important official acts which do not admit of delay.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLasked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the Lord-Lieutenant could not go as far as Holyhead without a ceremony which involved a slight upon the Catholic population, whereas the King could go wherever he liked without the appointment of Lords Justices.
§ MR. BIRRELLWell, I am not responsible for that.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLCannot my right hon. friend abolish this absurd gingerbread practice?
§ [No Answer was returned.]