HC Deb 22 February 1911 vol 21 cc1894-6
Mr. J. P. FARRELL

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that two vacancies now exist on the Edgeworthstown magisterial benches, both formerly held by Catholics; whether he is aware that an influentially signed requisition has recently been presented to the Lord Chancellor, requesting him to appoint a local Catholic merchant and farmer to one of these vacancies; whether any steps are about to be taken to fill the vacancies; and, if so, will this gentleman's claim be considered?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Redmond Barry)

I am informed that one magistrate of the Edge-worthstown district died quite recently, and another ceased to be qualified, one it is believed a Catholic, and the other a Protestant. A memorial has been received by the Lord Chancellor in favour of the appointment of a gentleman who is a farmer living near Edgeworthstown, and it is under consideration.

Mr. J. P. FARRELL

asked if he will state the number of Catholic and Protestant gentlemen in County Longford recently appointed to the commission of the peace in that county; whether any and, if so, how many Catholic names submitted for appointment have been rejected by the Lord Chancellor; whether the names so rejected have been refused appointment at the instance of the Lieutenant of the County; and what steps the Government intend to take to equalise the balance on the bench, seeing that Longford County is 91 per cent. Catholic to 9 per cent. Protestant in population?

Mr. REDMOND BARRY

During the last three years three gentlemen have been, as I am informed, appointed to the County Longford Magistracy. All three were recommended to the Lord Chancellor by the Lieutenant of the County, and of the three two are believed to be Catholics and one a Protestant. During the period mentioned the names of two other gentlemen were submitted to the Lord Chancellor. The names of these two gentlemen were not forwarded by the Lord Chancellor to the Lieutenant of the County. As to one of them the Lord Chancellor did not at the time consider his appointment desirable, and the case of the other is under the Lord Chancellor's consideration. The Lord Chancellor is always prepared to consider any steps that may be suggested with a view to rendering the County Magistracy as representative as possible of all sections.

Mr. MacNEILL

Is not the Lord Lieutenant of this county, who practically, as my right hon. Friend knows, exercises a veto over these appointments, Lord Long- ford, a very well-known Conservative Nobleman who was twice promoted by a Conservative Government?

Mr. REDMOND BARRY

The answer shows that the matter was dealt with by the Lord Chancellor himself.

Mr. MacNEILL

Are they not submitted by the Lord Chancellor to Lord Longford before the appointments are made?

Mr. REDMOND BARRY was understood to say

It is in accordance with the immemorial practice.

Mr. FARRELL

May I ask whether, in the case of the two names that were not submitted by the Lord Chancellor to the Lord Lieutenant of the County, it is now proposed by the Lord Chancellor to deal with those two names himself without reference to the Lord Lieutenant?

Mr. REDMOND BARRY

I am not able to give particulars of the matter, but the Lord Chancellor must have some good reason for the judgment he came to with regard to one man.