asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state why a temporary farm improvement supervisor on the staff of his Department in West Donegal was refused permission to sit for the recent confined competition for appointment as Parish Agricultural Advisory Agent, despite the fact that he was willing to produce medical certificates from four eminent medical officers giving him a clean bill of health.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Appointment.
Applications from officers eligible to compete in the recent confined competition for appointment as Parish Agricultural Advisory Agent (Congested Districts) had, before transmission to the Civil Service Commissioners, to be certified to the effect, inter alia, that the applicant was suitable from the point of view of health, having particular regard to the record of his sick absences, for the established post mentioned. I was advised that on health grounds, and in view of his past record of sick absences, it would not be possible to give the requisite certificate referred to in the case. For this reason, therefore, I regret that it was not possible to allow the officer referred to in the question to compete.
Does the Minister consider it fair that a young man employed by his Department who contracted tuberculosis during the emergency when cycling around the bogs in Donegal and who now produces four certificates from four prominent medical men that he is 100 per cent. fit, should have his application turned down for this appointment on the certificate of a medical man who has never seen him? Would the Minister not reconsider the position in view of the fact that these four prominent medical men are prepared to give a certificate of his fitness?
Mr. Walsh
The Deputy is not quite correct as regards the four certificates. Two certificates were submitted.
And an offer of two more?
Mr. Walsh
Two were submitted. I wonder if the Deputy is aware that in 1950-51 this man missed 383 days in the two years because of illness.
Because he was in a tuberculosis home.
Mr. Walsh
There were two competitions for two posts. One was for an established pensionable post under the Parish Agricultural Advisory Agencies for the congested districts. The other was under the Land Reclamation Project. The Land Reclamation Project post is not an established or pensionable post. The applicant was permitted to sit for that non-established post but he was refused on health grounds permission to sit for the other competition.
But he is now debarred from sitting for this permanent established post on the grounds that a certificate is not procurable from a medical officer who has never seen him.
Mr. Walsh
The medical officer has stated that, having regard to his illness and the length of time he was unwell, he would not give a certificate.
Tuberculosis is not like a sore toe; he will not get better of it overnight.