§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the recent judgment of the Master of the Rolls in the Four Courts, Dublin, on an application for attachment for contempt of court against William Hastings, of Ballinasloe, for a gross attack, in a newspaper called the "Western News," on the court itself for its judg- 1544 ment in a case in which Hastings' daughter and son-in-law were plaintiffs; whether the Master of the Rolls stated that the article complained of was so grossly contemptuous that he, the judge, would not undertake to deal with the case himself but would direct that the papers in the case be sent to the Attorney-General, with a view to action being taken by the Law Officers of the Crown to protect and uphold the administration of the Law in His Majesty's courts in Ireland; whether these papers have, as a matter of fact, been yet submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown; and, if so, what action is being taken to give effect to the condemnation of Hastings' conduct?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Redmond Barry)I have seen a newspaper report of the motion for attachment made before the Master of the Rolls, on the charge of contempt of court by William Hastings. No papers in connection with this matter have been submitted to the Law Officers.