§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary when the last Return was made giving the names of all persons holding the commission of the peace in Ireland; and if he will have a Return prepared giving the names, addresses, and occupations, with the date of their appointment, of all persons in Ireland who are at the present time in the commission of the peace?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe last complete Return giving the names, occupations, and dates of appointments of all persons holding the ordinary commission of the peace for the several counties and boroughs in Ireland was made in December, 1893. Since then there have been several continuation Returns bringing the information down to 30th November last which contain all that the hon. Member asks for except the addresses of the magistrates, which can be found in the ordinary books of reference. No further Return appears to be required.
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§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary if he will give a Return of the names, addresses, and description of all persons who have been appointed in Ireland to the commission of the peace since the 1st day of January, 1906, without the recommendation of the lieutenant of the county and upon the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, with the dates of their appointment?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis Return cannot be granted. The Lord Chancellor is the person responsible for the appointment of the ordinary county magistrates, whether the persons so appointed were recommended to him by the lieutenant of the county or not, and it would be undesirable and not in the interest of the administration of justice in the Petty Sessions Courts that any distinction should be publicly drawn between those magistrates whose appointment was recommended by the lieutenant of the county, and those in whose cases such recommendation was dispensed with by the Lord Chancellor in the exercise of the discretion vested in him by law.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, in consequence of the removal of residence of the local justice of the peace from Lanesborough, county Longford, there is no justice of the peace to sign summonses and generally act magisterially there; whether the name of Mr. John Rhatigan, Clonbonny House, Lanesborough, has been submitted for appointment; and whether Mr. Rhatigan will be appointed to fill the vacancy?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Lord Chancellor's Secretary informs me that there is no magistrate actually residing in Lanesborough, but there are four ordinary magistrates, in addition to the resident magistrate, and three ex officio magistrates, empowered to act in the Petty Sessions district in which Lanesborough is situated. Mr. John Rhatigan's name has been submitted to the Lord Chancellor for appointment to the commission of the peace, and will be considered.