§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that it was the practice when a county lieutenant in Ireland became physically or mentally incapable of exercising the privilege attendant to that office of nominating magistrates, and being consulted as to the fitness of candidates for the magistracy to be recommended by him, to nominate a vice-lieutenant to exercise this privilege; whether the vice-lieutenant so nominated was held to have a claim to the office of county lieutenant when such office became 1535 vacant; and, if so, whether there was any, and, if so, what, legal foundation for the acknowledgment of such a claim?
§ Mr. BIRRELLUnder the Militia Act, 1882, the lieutenant of a county, with the approbation of the Lord Lieutenant, may appoint any deputy-lieutenant to act for him as vice-lieutenant during his absence from the county, sickness, or other inability to act. The vice-lieutenant so appointed has no claim to the office of lieutenant when it becomes vacant, and no such claim has ever been asserted or admitted.