andMr. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the qualifications necessary for appointment as, and the procedure of appointing, an usher on the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas; when the said qualifications and procedure were fixed; and what system was in operation before the present system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Houses of the Oireachtas: Appointment of Ushers.
12.
Appointments to the grade of usher on the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas are made from the messenger grades in the Civil Service. Applicants must be within the age limits of 30 to 50 years and have had not less than ten years' service in one or other of the grades mentioned. Appointments are made on the basis of the report of an Inter-Departmental Interview Board which assesses the standard of education, experience and general suitability of the applicants.
Prior to 1938 appointments to this grade were dealt with under Section 6 of the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1924. From 1938-1955 appointments were made by means of limited competitions conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners to meet the requirements of the Civil Service Regulation Acts governing established appointments.
Since 1955 as the competition was confined to established personnel the normal Inter-Departmental promotion competition system has been followed.