§ Mr. HACKETTasked the Chief Secretary whether the officers of public bodies in Ireland who held office at the date of the passing of the Local Government Act of 1898 possess protection from arbitrary treatment, the right to compensation, and increase of salary in the event that they are able to show that their duties are increased; and whether he will advise the Local Government Board to place similar officers who were appointed after the passing of the Local Government Act of 1898 on the same footing, provided they are able to show that their duties were increased since their appointment?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, accorded to certain officers, who held office, at the passing of the Act, certain rights owing to the great change in local administration. The case, however, of persons who have accepted office since the passing of the Act is quite different; and their position is also defined744W in the Statute, which the local Government Board have no power to vary.