to ask the Minister for Education whether his attention has been called to a statement made by a member at a meeting of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (Cork County), held at Cork on the 11th December, 1926, to the effect that he knew of Inspectors who had been discourteous to lady teachers and who did not know their business, and whether in view of this allegation he will have inquiries instituted immediately in the matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - QUESTION RULED OUT
The following question appeared on the Order Paper:—
I agreed with Deputy Hennessy yesterday evening to allow this question to appear on the Order Paper. Having looked further into the matter, I am of opinion that the question is of a type which ought not be put, because it opens up the way for an enormous number of questions at second-hand, if I may use the phrase. If the Deputy were inquiring about some matter of which he was personally cognisant, the question would be in order, but the type of question which appears on the Paper is not in order and I am of opinion that it should not be asked.
Mr. HENNESSY
Shall I have an opportunity of putting the question down in correct form?
I am afraid not. The objection I have to the question is not in respect of its form but rather to the idea that the Deputy should put a question based upon a newspaper report, which is open to all the world as well as to the Deputy. If a question were put by the Deputy with regard to the system of inspection in National Schools, based on an incident reported to himself personally by the aggrieved person, it would be in order but a general question, based upon a report of what somebody else has said, opens up the way for a large number of questions of that type. The Minister could hardly be expected to be constantly making inquiries into statements of that kind.
Mr. HENNESSY
If, at a meeting of National Teachers, a person holding a responsible position makes a definite statement, have we not something to go on in framing a question?
I do not think so. If the Deputy himself had personal knowledge of a case, which he was prepared to argue with the Minister subsequently, that would be quite in order but this question does not appear to be of that type. We can, however, go into the matter elsewhere.