asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether, and in what circumstances, sanction has been given to the appointment as Secretary of the Galway County Council of a person reported by the Civil Service Commission as not possessing a competent knowledge of Irish for the position, in accordance with the advertisement issued by the Galway County Council.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CO. GALWAY APPOINTMENT.
On the decease of the late County Secretary, the County Council of Galway in May last promoted to the position their accountant, who had been in their service for a long number of years and had frequently deputised in a satisfactory way for the late Secretary.
On the suggestion of my Department the Council subsequently agreed to advertise the position. They stipulated, inter alia, that a knowledge of Irish sufficient to conduct the Council's business in that language would be required.
The advertisement subsequently issued stipulated "a competent knowledge of Irish." The Civil Service Commission in September reported that no candidate had a really competent knowledge of Irish. They did not say that the candidate in question had no knowledge of the language. Subsequently the County Council issued a fresh advertisement requiring "a working knowledge of Irish," and on 14th November, 1925, again appointed the accountant after expressing themselves as satisfied that his knowledge of Irish was then sufficient.
The gentleman in question has some knowledge of Irish and has conducted business in the language. Otherwise, he is a competent official, and on the 23rd ultimo I agreed to his appointment on probation with the object of enabling him to improve his knowledge of the language.
Can the Minister say why the Civil Service Commission, having been called into this matter, were subsequently ignored?
Owing to the action of the county council in re-appointing him, I did not think it necessary to call on the Civil Service Commission.
Mr. COSGRAVE
Has the Minister any knowledge of how many officials competent in Irish were employed in the Department of Defence while Deputy Mulcahy was Minister?
Will the Minister say whether, when applications were in in response to the second advertisement a third advertisement was issued changing the terms of appointment and resulting in the withdrawal of some of the applications that were sent in in reply to the second advertisement?
I believe that was the fact.
Are we to understand that the Minister approved of the terms of appointment notified in the third advertisement, changing the conditions of the second advertisement, and that the change probably resulted in competent Irish scholars who had made application under the second advertisement being prevented from accepting the appointment, or who were not willing to accept it under the terms of the third advertisement?
The change was not such as would have justified me in refusing to accept the Council's request in the matter, and I am not aware of the fact that it made any difference or that we would have candidates who would be more competent or have a better knowledge of Irish.
Was not the change a reduction in salary and was it not an effort in the way of economy?
That is the fact.
Mr. COSGRAVE
Is not Mr. Fogarty, who was appointed, drawing two salaries at present?
That question does not arise now.
Mr. COSGRAVE
It arises out of Deputy Cooper's remark.
Arising out of Deputy Cosgrave's remark, is the Minister aware that there were a number of competent Irish speakers in the Department of Defence?