§ The reservation by Section forty-seven of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, of matters relating to the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland shall not be construed as precluding the Parliament of Northern Ireland from having power, subject to the other provisions of that Act, to make laws in respect of the following matters in relation to jurors and juries in that Court, namely, the preparation and revision of jury lists, and the qualification, selection, summoning and attendance of jurors.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
944§ Sir H. SLESSERI think we should have some explanation of this Clause, because on the face of it it modifies the Government of Ireland Act, 1920. Taking out of reserve subjects certain matters which in future may he dealt with by the Parliament of Northern Ireland. I must not be taken as opposing this proposal in any way, but as it does alter the settlement arrived at in 1920 I think some explanation should be given why this alteration in the constitutional settlement arrived at is made before we pass this Bill into law.
§ Captain HACKINGI gladly respond to the invitation. The Parliament of Northern Ireland, as the hon. and learned Member knows, has passed an Act, which was prepared in conjunction with the Home Office, making certain changes in regard to such matters as the preparation and revision of the jury lists, and the qualification and selection of jurors, and such other matters as I described on the Second Reading of the Bill. These are matters of purely local interest, and hon. Members will realise that as it affects High Court juries as well as other juries it is necessary to declare that the reservation by Section 47 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, of matters relating to the Supreme Courts does not extend to them.
§ Clause 4 (Short title) ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Bill reported, without. Amendment; read the Third time, and passed.