asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether Thomas J. O'Reilly has ceased to be sub-postmaster at Waterville, County Kerry; if so, if he will state when he resigned, and whether any notice of the vacancy in that office was published in the Press or elsewhere; whether the vacancy still exists; and, if so, whether it is the intention to invite applications for the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterville (County Kerry) Sub-postmastership.
Mr. Lynch
Mr. Thomas Joseph O'Reilly relinquished his appointment as sub-postmaster at Waterville, County Kerry, on 14th March, 1943, and the office was transferred to his niece, Miss Josephine O'Reilly, who had been managing the office for him for some considerable time. As it was unlikely that a more suitable candidate than Miss O'Reilly would have been forthcoming, there would have been no point in advertising the vacancy. It is quite a usual thing to transfer a sub-office appointment to a near relative who has been closely associated with the working of the sub-office for some time, and whose work has proved efficient and satisfactory.
Is there any statutory obligation on the Minister to advertise a vacancy of this kind?
None whatever.
Was the lady one of the few surviving members of the Waterville Fianna Fáil Cumann?
Will the Minister say what tenure must a postmaster enjoy before he is permitted to transfer an office to a relation without advertising it?
It all depends on the individual case.
Will the Minister make further inquiries with regard to this case? If he does, I suggest that he will ascertain that this case is absolutely without precedent, that nobody was ever permitted to do this previously. As a matter of fact, everybody is aware that this is a political manoeuvre.
Nonsense.
Every dog in Kerry knows it is a wangle from top to bottom.