asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the reasons why it was decided to fix a maximum age limit of 48 years for candidates for the vacant position of chief medical adviser to the Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Appointment in Local Government Department.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether the chief medical adviser to the Department was consulted regarding the terms of the advertisement recently issued, and the qualifications required for the position of chief medical adviser to the Department; and, if not, if he will state the reasons why no such consultation took place.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that, in the advertisement recently issued in connection with the vacant position for chief medical adviser to the Department of Local Government and Public Health, the age and other qualifications specified differ substantially from those which appeared in the advertisement for that position when it was last vacant; and if he will state, in respect of each such point of difference, the reason for the alteration.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the reason why it is not proposed to fill the vacant position of chief medical adviser in the Department by promotion from among the medical inspectors to the Department.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the names of the medical inspectors attached to the Department; the number of their years of service in (a) an unestablished, and (b) an established position; and if he will state which of them are (1) eligible, and (2) ineligible, by reason of (a) age, and (b) other qualifications, for the position of chief medical adviser to the Department, according to the terms of the advertisement for that position recently issued.
I propose to answer questions 9 to 13 together, as they relate to the same object.
This post of chief medical adviser to the Department was not filled by promotion because, in view of its outstanding importance from the point of view of the public health, it is desired to secure the services of the best person available, whether already in the Civil Service or not.
The conditions of appointment to the position were determined after full consultation with the Minister for Finance and the Civil Service Commissioners. The qualifications laid down differ materially from those prescribed on the occasion of the last vacancy in the post, firstly as to professional qualifications and secondly as to age. As regards professional qualifications and experience, it was deemed desirable to prescribe a higher standard than previously and that standard was fixed without reference to the qualifications of the existing medical staff.
As to professional qualifications: Each candidate must: (a) be a medical practitioner of not less than ten years' standing and be registered in the Register of Medical Practitioners for Ireland; (b) possess one or more higher professional qualifications; (c) possess a registered diploma in public health or an equivalent degree in sanitary science or State medicine; (d) be of high administrative capacity and have comprehensive knowledge and practical experience to enable him/her to advise on all matters concerning preventive and curative medicine and other functions of the Department of Local Government and Public Health in relation to the administration of public health in general.
As to professional experience: Each candidate must possess: (a) satisfactory administrative and organising experience; (b) varied practical experience, which must include (i) satisfactory practical experience in general public health work, and (ii) satisfactory practical experience in one or more of the following—General practice, hospital work, dispensary district work under a local authority, laboratory work and research. When returning their completed application forms candidates are requested to give particulars of any published work issued by them dealing with some branch of medical science.
As regards age, I may point out that a civil servant who has served ten years may retire or may be required to retire upon reaching 60 years of age. In order that he should have pensionable status at 60 years of age he must be appointed before reaching 50 years. Bearing not only this consideration in mind, but also the desirability of leaving the field of competition as wide as possible the maximum age limit was fixed at 48 years.
As to the members of the medical staff of the Department who may be eligible or ineligible to compete for the position, the holding of the competition rests with the Civil Service Commissioners, and it is the only body who can determine the eligibility or otherwise of candidates desiring to compete for the post.
I am sending Deputy Mulcahy a list of the medical inspectors, giving particulars of the years of service, established and unestablished.
Will the Minister say if he has overlooked Question No. 12?
No; I have not. I have consulted everybody whose advice in this matter I thought would be useful.
Is there any medical officer in the Department who has the qualifications set out?
I do not know.
You do not know? Well, you should.
Will the Minister say whether he has overlooked Question No. 10, in which he is asked whether the chief medical adviser to the Department at present was consulted regarding the terms of the advertisement?
I have nothing to add to my reply. I consulted all those whom I felt would render me useful advice on the matter.
The Minister has ignored No. 10?
Has the Deputy any information with regard to it?
I am asking the Minister.
Has the Deputy any information?
I am saying that the Minister has ignored question No. 10, where he is asked whether the chief medical adviser to the Department was consulted regarding the terms of the advertisement recently issued.
Perhaps he would know the qualifications of the officers of the Department.
I am not concerned with the qualifications of the officers of my Department; I am concerned with the qualifications of the man who is going to fill this post, whether he is inside or outside my Department.
Is the Minister so concerned with that that he is unable to give a reply to the question which asks whether the chief medical adviser to the Department at present has been consulted with regard to the terms of the advertisement?
No; but, having consulted all those in my Department whose advice I thought would enable me to come to the right conclusion on the matter, I was satisfied that I could determine, in consultation with the other authorities in the State, what are the qualifications for this post.
The other authorities being the Minister for Finance and the Civil Service Commission?
Certainly.