asked the Minister for Local Government whether any local authority solicitor who is acting as a temporary district justice has leave of absence with or without pay; and if he will state by whom such local authority was represented in court prior to the appointment of a second solicitor to the local authority in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Temporary District Justice: Local Authority Solicitor.
20.
Mr. Ryan
A local authority solicitor who is acting as a temporary district justice has leave of absence without pay. I have no information as to the arrangements that were made by the local authority for the discharge of court work from the date of the commencement of the solicitor's leave to the date of the appointment of a second solicitor to the local authority.
Mr. Ryan
Will the Minister make inquiries with regard to the latter part of his answer, particularly to ascertain how any person who appeared on behalf of the local authority in the absence of its solicitor was remunerated?
The fact is that I might reply that it is really none of my business in this instance; it is not within the ambit of any power of mine. They are not appointed under any jurisdiction of mine in this case.
Mr. Ryan
Surely it is within the Minister's ambit to enquire into expenditure by the local authority. If the local authority had to expend money to engage another lawyer to appear on their behalf, it comes within his jurisdiction.
It comes within his jurisdiction if any person or persons were employed who were wrongfully employed. I have no information that such has been the case.
21.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Local Government whether any local authority solicitor is at present acting as a temporary district justice; and whether the period during which he is acting as such district justice counts for pension purposes in connection with his local authority post.
The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." The answer to the second part of the question is "No."