asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state (a) the number of years' service rendered by the higher executive officer who is at present acting as establishment officer at the date he was promoted to be an acting-assistant principal officer, and the minimum years' service which a higher executive officer must have in the higher executive grade before being so promoted; (b) the number of higher executive officers in the Department with longer service than this officer in the higher executive or analogous grades at the time of his promotion; (c) the number of months the officer had served as an acting-assistant principal officer when he was appointed to act in place of the establishment officer who is of principal officer grade; (d) the number of assistant principal officers in the Department; (e) the number of assistant principal officers in the Department with longer service in their grade than this officer at the date the latter was appointed to act in place of the establishment officer; (f) the number of assistant principal officers already in the establishment section of the Department and their periods of service in that grade; (g) whether the Minister for Finance has been requested to confirm this officer in his acting-appointment as assistant principal officer; and, if so, with what result; (h) the number of assistant principal officers in the Department whose individual periods of acting-service in that grade before being confirmed, exceed or exceeded this officer's period of acting-service in that grade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Servant's Promotion.
The Deputy should be aware that it is not desirable to enter into the merits of particular departmental appointments, for which I am statutorily responsible. As, however, the question has been put on the records of the House, it seems desirable to correct certain of the Deputy's assumptions.
The establishment officer of my Department has been allowed one year's special leave, without pay, to assist the Public Administration Division of the United Nations in a survey of the Departments of the Libyan Central Government. There has been no formal appointment of an acting establishment officer for the term of his absence, and it is not intended to make such an appointment. The duties of the office will be carried by the secretary with such assistance as may be required from existing officers of the Establishment Branch, including the officer to which the Deputy's question refers. On the grounds of general suitability, this officer will be the secretary's principal assistant in establishment matters during the establishment officer's leave of absence.
The following are the particulars in relation to this officer for which the Deputy has asked:
(a) Four years in the higher executive grade in both instances.
(b) Seventeen officers.
(c) In view of my opening remarks, this part of the question does not arise.
(d) Twenty-one officers.
(e) In view of my opening remarks, this part of the question does not arise.
(f) Three, with periods of service of approximately nine, eight and five years.
(g) The Minister for Finance, whose decision is awaited, has been requested to confirm the officer in question in his appointment in common with all other acting assistant principal officers serving in the Department who are due for confirmation in their appointments.
(h) This part of the question does not arise.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is intense dissatisfaction on the part of the staff at the assignment of this relatively junior officer to the post in question? Will the Parliamentary Secretary take some steps to allay the indignation which is felt by the staff at this unusual assignment?
I am aware that this is a highly efficient officer. I am also aware that when the Deputy occupied the position of Minister for Social Welfare we were refused permission to ask a similar question about an officer in his Department.
The last portion of that reply is obviously an affront to the Chair of which it is not my business to take notice. Does the Parliamentary Secretary suggest that there is only one officer of this person's rank in the Department of Social Welfare who is fitted to undertake these responsibilities? If so, it is a most outrageous affront to the remainder of the highly qualified staff of the Department.
I am well aware that during the period the Deputy occupied the office of Minister of this Department a man was promoted three times out of order.
In three years.
That is an outrageous falsehood.
Order, order! Question No. 17.