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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Jul 1935

Vol. 58 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. - Management Committee of Unified Society.

asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether the persons serving as members of the Committee of Management of the Unified Society, the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary, and the Chief Clerk of the Society, are full-time employees; whether he will state the conditions under which they are employed, including their rates of pay; whether any of the persons holding those positions are directors of Terrazzo Marble and Concrete Products, Ltd. ; and, if so, whether he will state the names of such persons, the conditions in regard to service and remuneration under which they hold their directorships, the nature of the business transacted by the company and the public contracts, either with the State or local Authorities into which it has entered.

asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether any civil servant acting as a member of the Committee of Management of the Unified Society was granted permission to accept a position as a director of a public company; and, if so, on what grounds and subject to what conditions was such permission given; whether he will state the name or names of the civil servants to whom permission to join the board of a public company was given, and the names of the company or companies included in such permission; whether he will state in respect of such civil servants the proportion of their salaries and bonus paid from public funds, the proportion paid by the Unified Society; whether their positions in the Civil Service are wholetime; whether they receive salaries or allowances in respect of their directorships; and whether the facilities afforded to the civil servants in question establish a precedent for future relations in the Civil Service.

I propose to reply to questions 1 and 2 together. The members of the Provisional Committee of Management of Cumann an Arachais Náisiúnta ar Shláinte are established civil servants who are temporarily seconded for duty on the Committee. One of these officers who acts as chairman is engaged full time on society duties. The other two officers are part-time only, the remainder of their time being devoted to their ordinary official duties in my Department. The secretary, assistant secretary and chief clerk of the Society are permanent full-time employees of the Society. Their salaries are as follows:—Secretary £1,000 per year; assistant-secretary £800. The salaries of the remaining employees of the Society do not require my sanction and I am unaware of what they are.

I am aware that the Chairman of the Committee of Management, Mr. D. O'Donovan, is a director of Terrazzo Marble and Concrete Products, Ltd. In notifying me of his intention to become a director he undertook to comply with the usual official requirements applicable to the Civil Service and stated that his duties as a director would not require his attendance during the prescribed official hours of attendance, nor conflict with his official interests. This is the usual procedure and no precedent was created. The official salary is £700. with bonus, and a payment of £200 a year in respect of his services as chairman of the committee is made by the Society, which also recoups to the State the amount of official salary paid.

As regards employees of the Society who are not civil servants I am required to see that such are not engaged in any other insurance business but I have no power to interfere if they enter into any other activities. Having no functions, I have no information as to the business of the company or the remuneration paid to its directors. I understand however that it is not concerned in contracts with the State or local authorities.

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