asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the contents and purport of the Order recently made by him pursuant to which the County Dublin Commissioner has nominated Mr. T.J. Cullen, architect, to the Governing Body of University College, Dublin; whether, prior to such nomination, there was any consultation with any of the last elected local representatives of County Dublin and, if not, by whom Mr. Cullen was first suggested for this nomination, and what were the names of other persons considered in connection therewith; also if he will give the qualifications of Mr. Cullen for the position to which he has been nominated, especially in the matter of the Irish language.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nomination to University Body.
The Order referred to was made under Sections 52 and 53 of the Local Government Act, 1941. It provides that the member of the Governing Body of University College, Dublin, to be elected by the Dublin County Council in accordance with sub-article (4) of Article VII of the Charter of the college should be nominated by the commissioner for the county council in writing not less than 14 days before 31st January, 1944. The Order further provides that notice of the person so nominated is to be given to the secretary or other proper officer of the college and that the word "elected" in sub-article (4) of Article VII of the Charter (in so far as it relates to an election by the council) shall be deemed to include an appointment under the Order. Articles 4 to 9 of Chapter VI of Statute I of the college, which prescribe the procedure to be followed by the county council in elections to the Governing Body, are suspended in so far as they relate to the manner of the election of a member of the Governing Body of the college by the county council.
Under the Order the nomination rested with the commissioner for the county council and in making the nomination he acted within his own discretion.
I have no information as to Mr. Cullen's special qualifications except that, to my own knowledge, he is a distinguished member of the profession of architects and a substantial ratepayer in the County of Dublin.