asked the President whether, in view of local dissatisfaction created by the three recent medical appointments under the Cork Co. Board of Public Health by the Local Appointments Commission, in which one candidate is stated not to have fulfilled the "essential Irish" qualification, he will state the special qualifications of successful candidates.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CO. CORK APPOINTMENTS.
I understand that the Deputy's question has reference to the recent appointments of three Assistant County Medical Officers of Health for the County of Cork. The essential qualifications for these posts were:—
(a) Registration as Medical Practitioner in the Register for Saorstát Eireann.
(b) Diploma of Public Health or equivalent degree in Sanitary Science or State Medicine.
(c) Evidence of having acted as Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent of a Sanatorium or Tuberculosis Dispensary for not less than six months (or) Certificate of proficiency in the diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis after attendance at a six months course of instruction at a recognised institution, or other satisfactory evidence of special knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis.
A competent knowledge of Irish was not specified as an essential qualification for these appointments, but the applicants were informed that a preference would be given to qualified candidates with a knowledge of Irish. The three doctors recommended for appointment were those whose names were placed first in the Report of the Board of Selection which interviewed the applicants. Only two of the candidates recommended as competent and suitable possessed a knowledge of Irish sufficient to justify the award of a preference and both these candidates were amongst the first three in order of merit. I am not aware that local dissatisfaction has been created by these appointments.
Is the President aware that other candidates possessed all the necessary qualifications, including Irish? Is he aware that, in one instance, the candidate had the M.B. and D.Ph., had experience in child welfare under the London County Council, school inspection in Cork City approved by the Local Government Board (Ireland), a post-graduate course— great stress is laid in these appointments on post-graduate courses—in the West London Hospital, post-graduate course in eye, ear and throat under Dr. O'Hea Cussen, specialist; a post-graduate course under the late Dr. O'Carroll, Cork; panel work in various cities and towns in England, dispensary work in various rural districts in Ireland, including Inchigeela, which is an Irish-speaking district, and also experience in tuberculosis cases. Possessing those qualifications as he did, I should like the President to state in what particulars the successful candidates excelled.
I have seen the marking of the Board of Selection, which is a thing I do not usually see. There is no question of doubt as regards the superiority of the candidates selected. Having regard to the marks of the three candidates who were selected over the other candidates, the Board of Selection had no other course but to do as they did. They were obliged to do that by reason of the marked superiority of the three candidates nominated for these positions. I do not know of the circumstances which the Deputy has mentioned.