asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will state the number of decrees issued to under-sheriffs for execution and the number executed between the passing of the Enforcement of Law (Occasional Powers) Act, 1923, and its expiry, and between the expiry of that Act and the present time.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EXECUTION OF DECREES.
TOMÁS MAC EOIN
Mr. O'HIGGINS
It has not been found possible to obtain the requisite information in respect of every county, as a number of under-sheriffs recently appointed found that their predecessors had not kept adequate records. The figures in respect of eighteen counties and four county boroughs show that from 1st March, 1923, to 31st August, 1923, 7,152 decrees were issued to under-sheriffs, and 5,026 executed. The corresponding figures for the same shrievalty areas for the period 1st September, 1923, to 15th instant, are 7,089 and 4,664 respectively.
I should warn the Deputy that these figures are valueless for the purpose of estimating the effectiveness of the Enforcement of Law Act.