§ 63. Mr. DUFFYasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the appointment of magistrates in Ireland has given rise to dissatisfaction amongst the people; whether the practice at the present time is to submit to the Lieutenant of each county the name or names of persons recommended for the magistracy for his sanction or rejection; whether the Lieutenant in all the Connaught counties is a Tory in politics; and whether he can state what 36 steps are open to the commercial, farming, and industrial classes to secure a nominal representation on the bench in view of the fact that all names submitted are certain to be vetoed by the Lieutenant in question?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am of course aware that the appointment of magistrates fails to give general satisfaction. The practice is as stated by me in the reply given to the question asked by the hon. Member for South Donegal on the 29th February last. As I have previously stated, the Lord Chancellor is always prepared to consider in connection with the county magistracy suitable names which may be submitted to him from representative sources.
§ Mr. DUFFYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that requests have been made to the Lord Chancellor to give some representation of the industrial classes on the local bench and that such requests are generally ignored and invariably some most unpopular and offensive man is appointed; and does he consider that such a policy is calculated to inspire respect and confidence in the magisterial bench in Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not agree that such a course is pursued.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Lord Chancellor regards it as his duty to submit the name of every magistrate he appoints to the Lord Lieutenant of each county; and is he aware that the Lord Lieutenant of county Donegal is a signatory of the Solemn League of Covenant?