Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Attorney-General if he will list the duties of justices of the peace in Northern Ireland.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSince 1935 the general powers of justices of the peace in Northern Ireland have been limited to remanding defendants, granting bail, committing persons for trial, and trying a limited number of minor offences when the defendant consents to be so tried. Such justices have certain other functions relating to the signing of summonses, warrants, declarations and similar documents, and the making of orders for the destruction of unsound food and game. The existing powers and duties are mainly set down in the First and Second Schedules to the Magistrates Courts Act (NI) 1964.
§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Attorney General how many persons in each county 732W in Northern Ireland have been invited to serve as justices of the peace during the past six months; and, of that number, how many declined.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe number of persons who in the past six months have been invited to accept appointment as justices of the peace in a county or county borough in Northern Ireland, and the number of these who have declined such appointment are as follows:
- County Londonderry, 17 invited—none declined.
- County Fermanagh, 13 invited—1 declined.
- County Antrim, 22 invited—1 declined.
- County Armagh, 17 invited—1 declined.
- County Down, 15 invited—1 declined.
- County Borough of Londonderry, 12 invited—1 declined.
- County Borough of Belfast, 11 invited—none declined.