HC Deb 18 May 1909 vol 5 cc233-5
Mr. EDWARD BARRY

asked whether the lord lieutenants of counties supply the Lord Chancellor with forms containing particulars as to the nature of their business and the qualifications of candidates for the magistracy, filled in by the applicants themselves; whether Mr. Griffin, of Timoleague, filled such a form for Lord Bandon prior to his appointment; whether it contained the information that he resides in and carries on business as a licensed publican in Timoleague; and, if so, whether the document was forwarded to the Lord Chancellor for his guidance as to the merits of Mr. Griffin for the bench?

Mr. BIRRELL

I am informed that forms of particulars filled up by the candidate, which include the nature of his business, are customarily forwarded to the Lord Chancellor by the lieutenants of counties when submitting names for his consideration in connection with the magistracy. A form filled up and signed by Mr. Griffin, and apparently stating the many businesses he carried on, was re- ceived by the Lord Chancellor in the case referred to, but the particulars did not state that he resided in a licensed house and carried on business as a licensed publican or suggest any grounds for further inquiry in that respect.

Mr. EDWARD BARRY

asked how many publicans in Ireland have been appointed county magistrates during the past three years on the recommendation of the county lieutenants and sanctioned and approved by the Lord Chancellor; whether, in these cases, information was supplied to or asked for by the Lord Chancellor that these men were publicans; why is it, if no such information is asked for when men are nominated by county lieutenants, that stringent and searching inquiries are set on foot when men are nominated by representative public bodies?

Mr. BIRRELL

I am informed by the Lord Chancellor's secretary that it has not been the practice to accept or act on the recommendation of the lieutenant of a county in favour of the appointment of a person holding a publican's licence to the magistracy. Such recommendations have been extremely rare and seem in most cases to have been due to inadvertence. It would not be possible within the time available to pick out of the list of 985 persons appointed to the magistracy within the last three years the few instances of the kind which have occurred. Information is asked for and inquiries are made in every case where there is any ground for belief, from the form signed or otherwise, that the person proposed to be appointed, whether recommended by the lieutenant of the county or by any other person, holds a publican's licence. The Lord Chancellor will always be willing to consider any cases of a specially exceptional character which may be submitted to him; such cases no doubt sometimes arise.

Mr. EDWARD BARRY

Will this gentleman be continued in view of the suppression of necessary information?

Mr. BIRRELL

The matter is before the Lord Chancellor.

Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

Are the names of all magistrates submitted to the police in Ireland to have their characters investigated, and does the same thing prevail in England?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have no knowledge of the matter.

Mr. KILBRIDE

May I ask whether in these rare cases where publicans have been made magistrates the publican is not a man who politically is opposed to the Irish party?

Mr. BIRRELL

Publicans, like everyone else, are divided in opinion.