asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state what was the rank of Mr. D.J. O'Donovan, late Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare, on his assignment to the Department of Local Government and Public Health, what Civil Service grades he passed through or over and the dates of his promotion, how many senior officers he passed over in each promotion and, in particular, on the occasion of his appointment as Secretary to the Department of Social Welfare, and whether all or any of those promotions were influenced by considerations other than the public service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Department— late Secretary.
Mr. D.J. O'Donovan was assigned to the Department of Local Government and Public Health as a junior executive officer in October, 1928. He was promoted to general inspector on 15th March, 1932. He was seconded to act as principal officer in November, 1937, and was appointed to that grade in August, 1938. He reverted to the general inspector grade in April, 1940. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare by the then Government in January, 1947.
I was not responsible for any of these appointments or promotions, nor am I aware of the considerations which influenced them. I cannot say how many senior officers Mr. O'Donovan passed over on each promotion received by him.
Is it not a fact that the officer mentioned in this question was an inspector under the Department of Local Government of Dáil Éireann and that he was, in fact, reinstated in the year 1928, having been victimised and dismissed by the Provisional Government of 1923?
He was nearly being dismissed by you later.
That does not matter. It is very well for gentlemen like the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Justice to jeer at Mr. O'Donovan because he was a Republican when they were Common-wealthers.
He was missing the bus.
And they were using British artillery.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state what pension and lump sum were granted to Mr. D.J. O'Donovan on his dismissal from the public service.
The pension and lump sum awarded by the Minister for Finance in the case referred to were £728 10d. 0d. per annum and £1,942 13s. 4d., respectively.
I wonder what pension he gave the road workers when he sacked them in County Dublin?
We now see from where the spleen is emanating.
He got what was coming to him.
£1,000 a year like the chairman of the Electricity Supply Board.
Felon setting.