asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in relation to the appointment of Mr. Patrick Flannery, Milltown, County Galway, as paymaster for the Office of Public Works (a) the area in which he will operate; (b) who did the work in the area heretofore; (c) whether the vacancy was advertised and the qualifications required; (d) whether there was any examination or interview and, if so, how many candidates presented themselves; (e) on whose recommendation Mr. Flannery was selected; (f) if he will be still free to pursue his political activities and (g) if it was essential that he transfer his licensed premises, other business and farm before or since taking up the appointment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Paymaster.
As stated in my reply on 1st March, the individual in question has been appointed as paymaster for the Special Employment Schemes Office—not the Office of Public Works. The answers, seriatim, are as follows:—
(a) The area comprised in the former rural districts of Tuam and Glenamaddy;
(b) Wages have hitherto been paid by means of payable orders issued direct from my office;
(c) The vacancy was not advertised: the principal qualifications are probity and trustworthiness, and ability to perform the clerical work involved in the discharge of wages sheets;
(d) there was no competitive examination: Mr. Flannery was interviewed by officials of my office;
(e) The appointee was one of a number of persons whose names were submitted to me, and he was selected by me as being the most suitable for the post;
(f) He cannot engage in any political activities which would interfere with the proper discharge of the duties of the post;
(g) I am not aware that there is any positive prohibition against appointing to the post of paymaster a person who is the owner of licensed premises, but on the other hand I would consider such an appointment undesirable. The person in question, however, has not yet taken up his duties pending the completion of the fidelity guarantee bond required in such cases.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if it is the practice now of his Department to give jobs to the wealthier section of the community and to pass over the poorer and perhaps more honest sections? Could the Parliamentary Secretary not find a more deserving person, from the employment or unemployment point of view?
Who would the Fianna Fáil crowd suggest?
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think it wise to make an appointment such as that, for which there is no precedent, or will he tell the Dáil if there is any precedent?
I have the very self-same authority to-day and I have followed the self-same procedure as Deputy Hugo Flinn on the 18th November, 1932, when he appointed Deputy Killilea a paymaster for the Board of Works.
That position can be clearly explained. Deputy Killilea had no other business in the world. He and his wife and family had nothing between themselves and Heaven except £2 per fortnight from the Board of Works. If the Parliamentary Secretary wants that for propaganda I will make him a present of it. I ask the Parliamentary Secretary now was there no more deserving applicant, from the point of view of employment, than the man to whom he gave the position and can he not find any person other than a key man of Clann na Talmhan and a relation of his own to give it to?
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think it is wise that he should have to go so far back to find a precedent?
In view of the unsatisfactory answer to this question, I give notice that I desire to raise the matter on the adjournment.
In reply to the statement by Deputy Killilea—which is just what I would expect from him— that the man is a relation of mine, I do not think there is anything against any of my family, and when they qualify for anything and are deserving applicants there is no reason why they should not get it. Deputy Lehane asked me why did I go back to 1932. I hope that he does not want me to give him particulars of the transfer of the population of Cavan to the Board of Works since 1932.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount Mr. Patrick Flannery, Milltown, County Galway, has received by way of remuneration each week since his appointment as paymaster to the Office of Public Works, and also whether he is allowed any travelling expenses and the total amount he has paid out to date.
The answer is as follows: remuneration, nil; travelling expenses, nil; total amount paid, nil. Paymasters receive an allowance, as the Deputy should know, in respect of travelling expenses at the rate of 1 per cent. of the payments made.
So this man who has been appointed has got nothing?
No.
Because he has not been put into office yet.
And he will not, if I can help it.