§ 45. Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Attorney-General why the ancient office of under sheriff is to be abolished in Northern Ireland; and who was consulted before the decision was made.
§ The Attorney-General:The office of under sheriff was abolished under the powers contained in section 104 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, which was considered fully by both Houses when the Bill was in Parliament. Over the past eleven years the duties of under sheriffs have almost entirely been either abolished or transferred elsewhere; the decision to implement section 104 was made only after full consultation with the under sheriffs themselves and those to whom their remaining functions have been transferred.