asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that a man who served for five years in the Army during the emergency, has been refused appointment as postman from the special Army competition on the grounds that he is three-quarters of an inch too small, although he is eligible for appointment as postman following his success at another confined competition; and, if so, if he will have the regulations for the Army competition amended in this respect.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Postman.
Three competitions for appointment as postman were held by the Civil Service Commission last year. The regulations for the open competition and for the competition confined to certain ex-Army candidates prescribed a minimum height because successful candidates would normally be entering the postman grade for the first time. The regulations for the competition confined to temporary and auxiliary postmen did not prescribe a minimum height since successful candidates would have already given satisfactory service on postman duties and, moreover, should normally have satisfied the height requirement on temporary recruitment. The candidate referred to by the Deputy competed in both the ex-Army and the temporary postman competitions and was successful in the educational test for both. On medical examination he was found to be below the height specified in the regulations for the ex-Army competition and, accordingly, could only be appointed from the temporary postman competition.
I regret that it would not be possible to amend the regulations for the ex-Army competition as proposed by the Deputy. I am, however, having the candidate's position under the conditions of service of the other competition specially examined and will communicate the result to the Deputy.
Surely the main thing to be considered here is that if a man has served for six years with the Defence Forces it is useless debarring him from a competition because of his height? If he were too small he would not have been accepted in the Defence Forces.
Is it not rather an anomaly that a small man is considered fit and suitable to defend his country and that he is not considered fit to pedal a bicycle around the country? Which is the more important from the Minister's viewpoint?
The various competitions are there and a certain standard must be held. Whether it is big or small, there must be some standard. This man was qualified to compete in both examinations, but he did not grow the necessary height in the meantime.
Napoleon would not have qualified.