asked the Minister for finance whether he can state if Miss M. Davey, of Carnaree, Co. Sligo, was one of the five candidates selected as specially qualified from amongst the competitors at the recent examination for the position of District Court Clerk at Ballymote and Riverstown; what marks Miss Davey and the candidate eventually appointed received in Irish at this examination; and whether, having regard to the high marks obtained by Miss Davey, he is prepared to offer her alternative employment.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - APPOINTMENT OF DISTRICT COURT CLERK (SLIGO).
The candidate referred to was one of those who had shown to the satisfaction of the Civil Service Commissioners, by passing a literary test, that they were sufficiently qualified to be summoned for personal interview by a Selection Board which assisted the Commissioners in determining the person to be appointed. Any candidate who, before the vacancy was announced, had already satisfied the Commissioners in that way was not required to undergo a further literary test, and this arrangement applied in the case of the candidate who was eventually appointed. It would be misleading to compare the marks obtained by him and the other candidates referred to in one subject in the two separate examinations in which they qualified. A knowledge of Irish was essential for the appointment, but Irish was only one of a number of subjects prescribed in the tests. The conclusion of the Civil Service Commissioners in determining the relative merits of the candidates was taken, not on the examination in question, but on the report of the Selection Board. Under the advertised conditions of appointment a candidate with Army service was to receive a preference, and the candidate appointed had such service. No other post in which Miss Davey could be employed is at present vacant. Any further vacancy will be duly announced by public advertisement.