Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1823

II Mayor or other Chief Magistrate to hold Sessions for Registry of Freeholders. If Two Justices attend, Mayor's Presence not necessary.

And whereas the Number of Justices who are empowered to act within several of the Counties of Cities or Counties of Towns in Ireland, agreeable to the Charters thereof, is extremely limited, and often confined to those who from Age and Infirmity are incapacitated for active Performance of Duty: And whereas it is necessary to provide against any consequent Inconvenience or Delay of Persons possessed of Freehold Property, who wish duly to register such Freeholds, and to qualify themselves for exercising the elective Franchise ; be it further enacted, That in all Counties of Cities and Counties of Towns in Ireland, on the Day immediately preceding the opening of each General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, unless such Day shall fall upon a Sunday, and in such Case on the Day next but one preceding the opening of each General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and upon the Day immediately after the criminal and other Business of every such Sessions shall have been fully transacted, unless such Day shall fall upon a Sunday, and in such Case on the Second Day after such Business shall have been fully transacted, the Mayor or other Chief Magistrate of such County of a City or County of a Town, or his sufficient Deputy appointed by him pursuant to Charter or Prescription, in case of his Absence from such City or Town, or his Illness, shall, upon being required so to do by any Freeholder of such County of a City or County of a Town, hold an open Court of Sessions for the Purpose of registering all such Freeholders as shall present themselves for that Purpose, in such Manner and Form as is by this Act required ; and that the said Mayor or other Chief Magistrate, or his Deputy, shall commence his Sitting on each Day at the Hour of Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, and shall continue it until the Hour of Four of the Clock in the Afternoon : Provided, however, that in case any Two Justices of the Peace for said County of a City or County of a Town shall attend at such Sessions during the Time appointed for the Attendance of the said Mayor or other Chief Magistrate, upon such respective Days or either of them, or during any Portion of such Time, then and in such Case the Attendance of the said Mayor or other Chief Magistrate shall not be required during the Time of the Attendance of such Two Justices of the Peace.