asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware (a) that the Longford County Council promoted the accountant in the secretary's department of that body to the position of secretary rendered vacant by the death of the secretary; (b) that they did so in accordance with Section 5 of the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act; (c) that all the regulations which were necessary under that section were observed; (d) that the person promoted has a great many years' service in the office of secretary and accountant; (e) that he is highly suitable for the appointment; (f) that his promotion was the unanimous decision of the council, which is composed of all parties and if he proposes to sanction the appointment, and if not, on what grounds he refuses to do so.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Longford County Council Secretaryship.
The Longford County Council adopted a unanimous resolution purporting to appoint one of their officers to the vacant office of secretary of the county council. Before doing so they did not receive sanction, as required by law, to their filling the office without obtaining a recommendation from the Local Appointments Commissioners, and I informed them I was not prepared to give such sanction. Not having received sanction to proceeding under Section 5 of the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926, the resolution of the council was of no effect.
In an important administrative post such as that of secretary of a county council the machinery for selecting a suitable candidate provided under the Act of 1926 should be utilised and I am not aware of any reason for departing from the established practice in such case. I have, therefore, on behalf of the county council, requested the Local Appointments Commissioners to recommend a person for appointment. The Local Appointments Commissioners will, I have no doubt, give due weight to the qualification, service and experience of the person whom the county council wish to appoint, if he is a candidate for the post.
Does the Minister say that the officer who has been promoted is not efficient, and highly efficient, and does he not think that refusing to sanction the appointment militates against the efficiency of every officer on a public board inasmuch as he is removing the chance of promotion which should be available to every officer or official, provided he is efficient?
Mr. O. Ceallaigh
I am not saying that the man is not an efficient employee of the county council, but I do say that it is better that the Local Appointments Commission should have the opportunity of getting the best man possible for the service of the county council. If the officer who has had long service satisfies the Local Appointments Commission that he is the best person they will, no doubt, take that into consideration when making their selection.
The officer in question has satisfied the county council after 30 years' service that he is capable of filling the appointment. The county council must have more knowledge of that officer's capabilities than the Local Appointments Commission can possibly get by meeting him for a few minutes at an interview. It was an unanimous decision by the council—or there may have been one exception. I may be making a speech, Sir, but I should like to ask if it is not a fact that Section 5 is there for the purpose of allowing promotion to be made by local authorities?
Yes, Section 5 is for that purpose and it is frequently used by local authorities, but the Minister has always the discretion of deciding whether in respect of a particular office or post that section should be permitted to be used or not. In this case, I decided that, as it was such an important office, the Local Appointments Commission ought to have the opportunity of investigation.
Might I ask the Minister if that was really the reason or if there was another reason for his deciding not to give the necessary sanction? It is suggested that if another name had been submitted sanction would have been given. The statement has been made that if the name of the President of the local Fianna Fáil club, who is also a candidate, had been sent forward, the sanction would have been given.