Mr. NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of Government Boards and Departments of which the Chief Secretary for Ireland is ex-officio a member, the constitution of each Board, and its powers?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe Chief Secretary, as such, is a member of three Boards, namely, the Local Government Board, the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, and the Congested Districts Board. He isex-officio the President of the Local Government Board by virtue of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1872 (35 and 36 Victoria, c. 69). The Board consists of the Chief Secretary and Under-Secretary for the time being, the Vice-President, and two other Commissioners, one being qualified in like manner as the medical Commissioner 2528W under the Medical Charities (Ireland) Act. He is also President of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland by virtue of Section 1 of the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899 (62 and 63 Victoria, c. 50). Subject to the provisions of this Act the powers and duties of the Department may be exercised by the President or Vice-President, or by any person appointed by the President to act on behalf of the Vice-President during the temporary absence of the latter. The Chief Secretary is also a member of the Congested Districts Board by virtue of Section 44 of the Irish Land Act, 1909. The Board consists of fourteen members. Of these three are ex-officio, namely, the Chief Secretary, the Under-Secretary, and the Vice-President, Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland; two are paid members, and the remaining nine are appointed by His Majesty to hold office for five years.