asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that Roscommon County Board of Health at its meeting held on 8th February appointed an assistance officer and sanitary officer for the Athlone West district in the constituency of Athlone-Longford; that the said assistance officer is the wife of one of the members who voted for the appointment, and if he intends to sanction this appointment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roscommon Appointment.
The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The application for sanction to the appointment is receiving consideration.
Mr. Brennan
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think it is in the interests of public administration that the wife of a member of a board of health should be made an officer of that board of health and that that board of health should be the body to inquire into the manner in which she was discharging her duties as their official?
All relevant considerations are being examined.
Mr. Brennan
Does the Parliamentary Secretary regard, in this respect, the husband's and the wife's income as a joint income in the same way as he would regard the income of the husband and wife when considering an application for an old age pension?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary in a position to state whether there is any precedent, since the Local Government Act of 1898 was passed, for a member of a board of health electing his wife to be a servant of that board?
Undoubtedly. One instance could be cited from the constituency that returned Deputy Dillon to the Dáil.
Anything could happen in County Monaghan as long as the Parliamentary Secretary is a Parliamentary Secretary; but outside of County Monaghan is there any precedent?
The particular instance I had in mind in County Monaghan concerns a very strong friend of Deputy Dillon.