Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the business of the County Courts in Ireland has increased to such an extent that it is necessary to appoint a Committee to consider amongst other matters the advisability of creating permanent positions on the County Court staffs for the registrars of the County Court judges; whether, it the suggested scheme is brought into operation, it is intended that they shall relieve the clerks the Crown and peace of part of the duties at present performed by them; if so, will the salaries attached to the various offices of clerk of the Crown and peace be proportionably reduced following the lessening of the duties of those officials; and whether in this connection he has considered the claims of the whole-time, though unestablished, staffs of the Crown and peace offices, with a view to their being utilised to deal with the work for which their competency is acknowledged, and with a view to providing the 930W necessary working power at a more economical expenditure than would be incurred if men whose remuneration would necessarily involve considerably increased outlay were employed?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe terms of reference to the Committee, which has been appointed by the Lord Lieutenant and which is now sitting, invite the Committee merely to report as to whether the duties of clerks of the Crown and peace have increased or decreased and whether the office of County Court registrar should be made greater use of for public purposes. Pending the Report of that Committee, which I cannot forecast, I am not in a position to reply to the inquiries of the hon. Member.