asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the circumstances of the case of Mr. Walter Gardiner, Castlebaldwin, Riverstown, County Sligo, who during the period 1922-24 served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the National Forces, and who in July, 1924, following his demobilisation, sat at a Civil Service examination and passed same, obtaining 42nd place, but was subsequently disqualified from getting a post, being twelve months over the specified age; whether, having regard to the foregoing facts, the Minister will give this case special and favourable consideration, and, if not in a position to award Mr. Gardiner a permanent post in the Civil Service, he will at least be appointed to a temporary post, so that he may qualify himself for a permanent one.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - AGE DISQUALIFICATION.
I am aware of the circumstances of the candidate referred to in the question. The regulations issued before the examination specified the age limits for candidates, and Mr. Gardiner should accordingly have been aware before he competed that he was ineligible for appointment. Any future vacancies for clerical officers in the Civil Service have to be filled by open competitive examination in accordance with the Civil Service Regulation Act, and a number of temporary clerks already engaged will have to be discharged. In the circumstances, no opportunity of employing a temporary clerk is likely to arise, and I regret that the appointment suggested in the question is not practicable.