§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state the number of Catholics holding the commission of the peace in county Cavan, and the proportion to the total number holding the commission of the peace in that county, and also the proportion of Catholics in the county to the whole population of the county, as at the last date for which figures as to population are available in 1909–10?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere are 156 persons holding the ordinary commission of the peace in the county Cavan, of whom 1805 seventy-eight, or exactly one-half of the total number of magistrates in the county, are believed to be Roman Catholics. According to the Census of 1901, the latest figures available, Roman Catholics formed 81 per cent. of the population of the county of Cavan.
§ Mr. KENNEDYCan the right hon. Gentleman say if the benches in Cavan were representative of the division of the population what would be the numbers of Catholics and Protestants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs Catholics form 81 per cent. of the population and one-half of the magistrates the hon. Member can obtain the informtion he desires by doing a simple sum.