asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that a number of temporary clerks have recently been discharged from the Army Finance Office; whether these clerks are covered by the terms of the circular issued by his Department on the 12th November, 1924, and whether the procedure prescribed in this circular has been followed in this case.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TEMPORARY CLERKS IN ARMY FINANCE OFFICE.
The clerks referred to are covered by the circular letter of 12th November, 1924, and the procedure prescribed in the circular has been followed in their case. None of them has had Army service, and they are being discharged to make way for ex-members of the Army successful in the competitive examination held last year for clerical posts. No vacancies for temporary clerks are available in other Departments to which the men being discharged could be transferred.
Are there no cies in the Land Commission? Is it not a fact that large numbers of temporary clerks have been taken on in the Land Commission, many of them men without clerical experience?
They are not being taken on now.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that thirty-three non-permanent clerks of the Army Finance Office have received a fortnight's notice of discharge, terminating on 11th February, 1925, and if he will state what purpose is being served by their discharge.
As stated in my reply to the question by Deputy Bryan Cooper, these temporary clerks are being discharged to make way for exmembers of the Army who have passed a competitive examination for clerical posts.
Mr. BYRNE
Would the Minister consider the advisability of postponing the notices which expire this evening with a view to making enquiry as to the statements made that the temporary staff about to be dismissed were refused permission to join the Army and were told at the time that they were rendering good service where they were?
I cannot agree to postpone the operation of the notices.
Mr. BYRNE
Am I to understand the men are being victimised because they could not get permission from the heads of their departments to join the Army at the time?
The Deputy is not to understand anything of the sort.
Could the Minister say whether there is any system whereby vacancies in one department can be filled by persons employed in other departments who are about to be dismissed? Can there not be transfers rather than dismissals and re-employment?
We always endeavour to have transfers, if transfers are possible.
I gather that very recently there have been temporary clerks appointed to the Land Commission at the same time as the Government were considering the dismissal of officials from another department, to wit, the Finance Department.
While clerks are required in a particular department they must serve there, and if clerks are urgently required in another department they must be procured.
Then the condition of possible hunger of the people that are at present in employment is not a matter for the consideration of the Minister's officials?
No; the question of the hunger of those who are out of employment is already a serious matter.
Does the Minister think that by dismissing one man to make room for another he is dealing properly with the question of unemployment?
It is always desirable where permanent employees are required that we should have permanent men doing the work rather than temporary men. It is most desirable to reduce the number of temporary clerks and a considerable number of men were appointed to the grade of clerical officers as a result of a recent competitive examination and they should be employed.
Will the Minister, following upon that proposition, admit that men who have been temporarily employed for a considerable time are more likely to give efficient service than new people brought in?
In any case many of these new people have experience and were employed as temporary men.
Will the Minister say, in view of the very particular nature of this department and the peculiar and difficult circumstances in which it was set up, if an assurance can be given that nobody will be dismissed from the department who gave valuable service in the formation of the department, at least until he has an opportunity of competing at some of the examinations open to temporary clerks?
We give every possible consideration to people who, for any sort of service, are entitled to that consideration.
Are we to take this dismissal of clerks as a sign that the army account work is finished and that all the accounts handed in to the Minister for Defence have been paid?
The Deputy would be very foolish to think that.