asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the procedure adopted by his Department for recruiting officers, petty officers and other members of the staffs presently employed in the Coastal Defence and Portal Control Services; whether vacancies were advertised through the labour exchanges or the daily papers, and whether all the officers and petty officers already appointed were required to pass a qualifying examination in seafaring duties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coastal Patrol and Port Control Services.
For the Coastal Patrol Service certain personnel were taken over from the Department of Agriculture with the vessels which had been used as fishery protection cruisers. Advertisements were inserted in the daily Press requesting applications for the additional appointments required. All applicants were invited to appear before an interview board appointed to examine the candidates' qualifications, experience and suitability for the service and appointments were offered to those found to be the most highly qualified. As regards the Port Control Service, the harbour master or the assistant harbour master of the port concerned was, whenever practicable, appointed as the competent port authority. Recruitment of the petty officers and seamen required was jointly effected by the particular competent port authority and the commanding officer of the dépôt or sub-dépôt concerned. It has not been the practice to consult the employment exchanges in matters of recruitment for the marine service; the announcement in the daily Press at the inception of the service produced satisfactory results. A qualifying examination in seafaring duties was not considered necessary having regard to the qualifications and experience of the applicants.