asked the Minister for Education if he will state (a) the manner in which Mr. Brian Ó Cuiv was appointed as assistant in the Institute of Advanced Studies; (b) the salary attaching to his post; and (c) whether such post was filled by competition following advertisement in the public Press.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment in Institute of Advanced Studies.
With regard to parts (a) and (b) of the question, Mr. Ó Cuiv's initial and subsequent appointments on the academic staff of the School of Celtic Studies were made by the council of the institute in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Act of 1940 establishing the institute. The Act provides that every appointment to a position (other than the position of senior professor) on the academic staff of a constituent school be made by the council on the request (with the approval of the Minister for Education) of the governing board of the particular school.
These appointments are not made by competition after advertisement, because it is not a question of making a selection of an individual for a specific post from amongst a considerable number of qualified persons. Rather is it a question of securing for the school as many as possible of the limited number of persons showing promise of scholarship and encouraging them to devote their careers to Celtic studies.
The procedure in selecting persons for any position on the academic staff (other than that of a senior professor) is that applications received are considered by the governing board of the school. This board consists of scholars of repute in Celtic studies or persons who have a special interest in those studies. They know of the students who are working in the field of Celtic studies and are in a position to judge of their merits and their suitability for work in the school. Persons selected are tested over a period of probation and only when they are regarded as in every way satisfactory are they confirmed in their appointments.
As to part (b) of the question, Mr. Ó Cuiv was originally appointed in February, 1942, as a temporary part-time assistant in the school at a salary of £180 a year. In June, 1942, he was appointed a full-time assistant on probation for one year at a salary of £400 and this appointment was subsequently renewed for a further year. In June, 1944, he was appointed to his present post as assistant professor on the scale of £500, proceeding by annual increments of £25 to £600 a year. The salary figures given are inclusive.
Would the Minister say if it was because the best qualified candidate in this case was appointed that Messrs. Binchy and Bergin resigned?
That is a separate question.
The resignation of Messrs. Binchy and Bergin has nothing to do with the matter at all as they had resigned, I think, some time before the appointment was made or, in any case, before the most recent appointment to the post of assistant professor.
Could the Minister say that it is a fact that the daughter of a Minister of this House secured an appointment by that institution?
If the Deputy cares to put down a question, I am prepared to answer it. I do not think that it is a supplementary question which, in fairness, ought to be asked. If the Deputy is going to use his privilege as a member of the House to make charges of this kind, I think, in fairness, I ought to be allowed to reply fully and, if I am given notice, I shall certainly reply.