§ 48. Mr. JAMES MASONasked whether, under the Government of Ireland Bill, an act done by an official of the United Kingdom in obedience to a Statute of the Parliament of the United Kingdom will be punishable by an Irish Court, if it appears to involve a breach of the law of the Irish Parliament?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Rufus Isaacs)If the Act is done in obedience to a Statute of the Imperial Parliament passed after the creation of the Irish Parliament, and which Statute extends to Ireland, it would not be punishable in an Irish Court, as the law of the Imperial Parliament then prevails. If the act is done in obedience to a Statute of the Imperial Parliament passed before the creation of the Irish Parliament, it would be punishable in an Irish Court unless the Irish Statute dealt with any of the matters reserved for the Imperial Parliament, in which case the law of the Irish Parliament would be void.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEIf the Irish Parliament passed a Bill forbidding distraint for taxes, would an Imperial officer not be able to distraint?
§ Sir RUFUS ISAACSThe answer which I have given covers that case.