Vol. 9 No. 19
asked the Minister for Justice if he can state (a) what is the number of writs and civil bills issued in Counties Kilkenny and Wexford for arrears of rent and payment in lieu of rent for land;
(b) how many decrees in these counties have been executed; (c) how many additional Under-Sheriffs have been appointed for these counties.
With regard to (a) and (b): to what period does the Deputy refer? I cannot ask my officials for figures as to the number of decrees issued or decrees executed without reference to some dates or period of time. If the Deputy would like to have a return of the number of writs or decrees lodged with the Under-Sheriff (a) for Kilkenny and (b) for Wexford between, say, 1st January and 1st November of this year, and the number of cases in which these have been executed, I shall get the figures for him. I would suggest that the Deputy would furnish me with any definite instances of which he is aware where there has been slackness in executing decrees in these counties.
With regard to (c), the answer is none. I have power under Act No. 20 of the present year to appoint "not more than six" assistant Under-Sheriffs altogether. There are, unfortunately, at least six counties where assistant Under-Sheriffs are needed even more than they are in Kilkenny and Wexford.
I would like to add that it would be very helpful to the Department if persons who are not satisfied with the manner in which their decrees are executed would state the facts to the Department, in each case, and I would be glad if the Deputy would convey that to any of his constituents who are interested in the matter. Deputies may be surprised to hear it, but there are counties from which a definite complaint is hardly ever received but in which it is constantly suggested, in a vague way, that the Under-Sheriff's business is not being properly done. It is very difficult for me to remonstrate effectively with an Under-Sheriff if the people who have a grievance refuse to come forward except by way of a general question in the Dáil.
Can the Minister say who is the present Minister for Sarcasm?
Deputy Corish.
The Minister should have said "guilty" when he rose..
