asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any appointment has recently been made of an inspector of mines and quarries; if he will state what were the qualifications required for the candidates; whether any advertisements were published inviting applications, and what number of applications were received.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MINES AND QUARRIES—APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTOR.
An appointment as inspector of mines and quarries was made in March, 1925, under Section 6 of the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1924. The vacancy was duly advertised in the Press, the insertions in the Dublin and Cork daily papers appearing between the 16th and 19th December, 1924. Over 250 inquiries were received in answer to the advertisement and 63 candidates completed the prescribed application form, the selection being subsequently made from amongst these candidates by a Selection Board appointed by the Civil Service Commission. The qualifications required were that the candidate should hold a first class certificate under the Coal Mines Regulation Acts and should have been employed within the last five years for not less than two years as a manager or under manager of a coal mine, or in some other responsible capacity requiring regular underground attendance in a coal mine. Practical knowledge and experience of metalliferous mining and of quarrying, as well as a knowledge of the use and practice of electricity in mining and quarrying were treated as additional qualifications, and a knowledge of the laws relating to mines and quarries was stated to be also desirable. A candidate, to be successful, was required to satisfy the Civil Service Commission in respect of age, health and character, the age limits being 25 to 35 years, and it was specified that preference would be given to ex-National Army candidates.
Can the Minister give us any indication of what preference to ex-National Army candidates, in matters of this kind, means? Is it preference over qualifications or preference assuming all other qualifications are equal?
In the first place the candidate would have to be fully qualified. If there were any particular qualifications that were specified as being essential he would have to have them. If there were other qualifications that would be regarded as desirable additional qualifications, they would be weighed against the fact that he had National Army experience. But allow a man to be taken on if he not allow a man to be taken on if he had not the essential qualifications and experience.
I suppose ex-National Army candidates would have special knowledge of mines?
Yes, if they are to be successful for appointment in the case of this particular post.