HC Deb 09 May 1911 vol 25 cc1028-30
Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

asked what special sources of information are available to His Majesty's lieutenants of counties in Ireland as to the suitability or otherwise of candidates for the office of justices of the peace in that country?

Mr. BIRRELL

I do not know that there are any special sources of information available to His Majesty's lieutenants of counties in Ireland. But the lieutenants are closely associated with their respective counties, and all general sources of information are open to them.

Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware the police are asked to pass judgment on the nomination of magistrates, and does he think it proper that the police should have the power of appointing magistrates, in Ireland, as is practically the case?

Mr. BIRRELL

I am not aware the appointment of magistrates in Ireland is in the hands of the police.

Mr. MOORE

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that before a man is appointed to the Commission of the Peace in Ireland the local police have to report what there is against him, and that this debars hundreds of Nationalist applicants?

Mr. MEAGHER

asked whether it is compulsory on the Lord Chancellor for Ireland, before making appointments to the magisterial bench in Ireland, to receive a nomination from the lord-lieutenant of the county or a recommendation from him of the person or persons to be appointed; and whether, if such be the case, persons whose political opinions are counter to the county lords-lieutenant have been appointed, notwithstanding the fact that strong recommendations from other sources have been received by the Lord Chancellor in favour of the appointment of gentlemen who have not been recommended or have not looked for the recommendation of the county lords-lieutenant on political grounds?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Lord Chancellor possesses the power of making appointments to the county magistracy without the previous sanction of the lieutenants of counties. The exercise of this power is a matter within the discretion of the Lord Chancellor, and necessarily depends upon the particular circumstances of each case. As I have already stated, the Lord Chancellor is always prepared to consider suitable names in connection with the county magistracy, which may be forwarded to him from any representative source.

Mr. MEAGHER

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that I hold in my hand documents which are undoubted proofs that the allegations contained in my question are absolutely correct, by reason of which 95 per cent. of the magistrates of the county of Kilkenny are Tories? Will the right hon. Gentleman devise some means by which this disgraceful inequality may be removed?

Mr. BIRRELL

I do not know what the right hon. Gentleman holds in his hand, but I think he ought to be satisfied that the Lord Chancellor is showing very considerable activity in this matter, and has added very much to the bench since he was appointed to his high office.