asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that of the 12 temporary clerks serving in Letterkenny Employment Exchange only one was registered at the date of appointment as being unemployed; whether he is aware that 10 of the officers now serving as temporary clerks were not so registered; whether at the relevant dates there were a number of unemployed persons with knowledge of clerical and office work registered at the Exchange, and, if so, whether he can state why none of them was appointed; whether he is aware that two of those appointed are brother and sister, and if in these circumstances he will indicate the test of suitability applied to applicants for these positions and by whom the test is applied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Letterkenny Employment Exchange.
I assume that the object of the question is to distinguish between persons whose names are recorded at the employment exchange as seeking employment before notice of the vacancies for temporary assistants is exhibited, and those whose names are so recorded as a result of their applications for the posts.
I am unable to make that distinction, and would refer the Deputy to my answer of the 28th March, 1935, to his earlier question on the same subject, in which I stated in effect that all persons seeking employment as clerks are taken into consideration in the process of selection. No special tests are necessary to eliminate obviously unsuitable applicants, and the final selection is determined after consideration of the experience and other qualifications, and the general circumstances of the applicants.
Is the Minister aware that there is grave dissatisfaction in the Letterkenny area at the whole method of employing temporary clerks in the employment exchange there and, in view of that fact, will the Minister cause an inquiry to be made into the whole method of employing temporary clerks?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part, therefore, does not arise.
If the Minister gets information that there is abundant dissatisfaction—and perhaps in this respect he might consult some Deputies of his own Party—will the Minister agree to have that inquiry?
It is probable that certain of the unsuccessful candidates are dissatisfied with the result, but I have never known a situation in which appointments had to be made in which that did not arise.
The method of recruiting gave them good grounds for dissatisfaction, seeing that the people who were unsuccessful were registered, and those who were not registered were employed.
The question of suitability is an important question.