asked the Taoiseach if the Government has yet adopted the new method for selecting county registrars and sheriffs in accordance with the statement issued on 1st March, 1948, and, if so, if he will give particulars of this method of selection, and if he will state to what classes of State officials it is intended to apply; and if he will further state whether the recent appointments of Circuit Court judge and State solicitor were made in accordance with this new method.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Selection of County Registrars and Sheriffs.
Mr. Boland
The statement referred to by the Deputy referred only to the appointment of sheriff for the County Borough of Cork. Steps are being taken, in accordance with that statement, to invite applications for the post by public advertisement and to establish machinery to ensure that the best qualified applicant will be appointed. It is proposed to have the qualifications, experience and suitability of candidates investigated by an interview board whose report will be submitted to the Government.
No decision has been taken as to whether this procedure will apply to any other classes of State officials. It was not adopted in connection with the recent appointments of a Circuit Court judge and State solicitors. The appointment of a Circuit Court judge was made, in accordance with the Constitution, by the President acting on the advice of the Government, and the State solicitors were appointed by the Attorney-General, on whom the responsibility for selecting the best qualified candidates rests.
Mr. Boland
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply, will the Taoiseach say why it is proposed to adopt this method of appointing sheriffs, of which I think there are only two in the whole country, when it is not proposed to adopt the same method in the case of county registrars? So far as I know, there are only two sheriffs, one in Cork and one in Dublin. Why must this method be adopted in the case of one particular office? I am not objecting to the method, but I want to know the reason.
I will give the Deputy the information as to why the procedure was adopted. This post was vacant when the Government took office. There were large numbers of letters from Fianna Fáil Deputies advocating the interests of various solicitors for this particular job. We do not want to have anything to do with jobbery.
Mr. Boland
Will the Taoiseach tell me how many letters there were for the State solicitorship in Tipperary and the post of Circuit Court judge?
To the best of my belief there were no letters whatever for the Circuit Court judgeship, and I have no information with reference to the State solicitor for Tipperary.
Mr. Boland
If that is the case, there has been a change.
There certainly has been a change from jobbery.
The jobbery is continuing.
That presupposes that jobbery was in existence, because something must be in existence before it can continue.
There is jobbery in excelsis.