asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether the position of stocktaker in the County Home, Loughrea, was recently filled; and if he will state what were the conditions of appointment, by whom the selection of the person to be appointed was made, how many applicants applied for the position, and on what grounds was the person selected appointed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Loughrea County Home Appointment.
Applications for the position of stocktaker at the County Home, Loughrea, were considered by the Galway Homes and Home Assistance Committee at their meeting on the 14th instant.
Article 42 of the County Boards of Health Accounts Order, 1924, requires the appointment of a competent person to discharge the duty, not being an officer or a person interested directly or indirectly in any contract for the supply of goods, or a person in the employment of such officer or contractor, and requires that the appointment be made at such time as will enable the person so appointed to complete the taking of stock by the last day of the half-year.
The appointment was duly made by the Homes and Home Assistance Committee.
I am not aware of the number of applicants for the position.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say if the person appointed had the qualifications or had any of the disabilities which he mentions?
As far as I am aware she had not any of the disabilities mentioned, but I cannot state that a specific inquiry on that point has been made. She was unanimously appointed by the Committee. She had previously discharged the duties to the satisfaction of the Minister and to the satisfaction of the Board.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is quite a considerable amount of unemployment in the western area, and that in the Loughrea area there were a number of well educated and qualified unemployed young men who would have been very glad to have an opportunity of occupying this post even at the small salary which was offered? In view of these circumstances, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider making representations to local bodies that as far as possible competent and suitably educated young men who are unemployed should be given preference in regard to this and similar posts before persons who have other responsibilities and other occupations?
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether an application has been made by any political Party in any division of the Gárda Síochána for a permit to sell any article or emblem in any street or public place on Easter Sunday, the 21st April, for the benefit of the Party funds; and, if so, if he will state in what areas and by what Party such application has been made, and whether it is intended to grant such permits, or whether such application has been refused.
Minister for Justice
The Commissioner, Gárda Síochána, received on the 21st instant an application from the honorary secretaries of the Fianna Fáil Party for permission for the sale of emblems in public places throughout the Saorstát during the week commencing Sunday, the 14th April, and ending on Sunday, the 21st April, both days inclusive. A reply was sent stating that under the regulations the applications should be made to each Chief Superintendent for permission to hold the collection within his division. I have no information as to whether these applications have been made and I do not interfere with Chief Superintendents in the performance of their duties in such matters.
Will the Minister say if he considers that Easter Sunday or the day which is supposed to be a day of national commemoration is a suitable day for giving a permit to any political Party to hold a flag day for the collection of Party funds?
That does not arise as regards police duties or as regards police regulations.
Is it possible that on Easter Sunday, which is a solemn religious festival and supposed to be a day of national commemoration, that the police will give a permit to a political Party to hold in the public streets a flag day for the collection of Party funds?
The only function the police have as far as these flag day collections are concerned is to observe the regulations and to see that the collections are properly supervised. They have no option in the matter.
As far as the Government is concerned does it propose to take any steps to prevent a political Party carrying out a flag day collection on that day and offering flags for sale for the purposes of Party funds?
Deputy Everett, Question 5.
Does the Minister think that this flag day collection on Easter Sunday is not a matter that ought to be considered from quite a number of different aspects and that he has a certain amount of responsibility for giving that consideration to it and that the Government as a whole might very well consider it from a general aspect?