§ 27. Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary the grounds on which the Local Government Board based their decision given on 31st January ultimo, in the appeal case of Patrick Lally, No. C.A. 2653, Tubbercurry, county Sligo, sub-committee, by which they refused the applicant an old age pension granted him by the local pension committee; whether he is aware that Lally's age has been testified to by the sworn affidavit of Mr. Charles Brett, of Achonry, a respectable Protestant gentleman; whether he is aware that the entries in Mr. Brett's family Bible were examined by Rev. Canon Daly, P.P. and Mr. P. J. Henry, J.P., members of the committee, and that these entries show Mr. Brett himself to be seventy-eight years; and, if so, whether, seeing that Mr. Brett positively swears he remembers Lally's birth in 1842, he will order a fresh investigation of the case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLPatrick Lally's claim for a pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the grounds that the evidence produced before them was not sufficient to warrant them in holding that Lally had established his claim to be at least seventy years old. I have no power to order a fresh investiga- 1168 tion of this case, which cannot be reconsidered by the Board unless it comes before them again on appeal.