asked the Minister for Justice the reasons why a second assistant secretary and an additional assistant principal officer were appointed to his Department in the last twelve months and the length of previous service in his Department of each of the civil servants appointed to the said posts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointments in Department of Justice.
21.
Mr. Ryan
The posts referred to were approved for the reason that I was satisfied that additional assistance at these levels was needed for the performance of the volume and quality of work arising in my Department.
The officer appointed Assistant Secretary had no previous service in my Department, and the person appointed Assistant Principal had about two and a half years' service therein. The former had served for twenty years, and the latter for forty years, in other Departments.
Mr. Ryan
Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate the increase in the volume of work which necessitated the appointment of two senior civil servants to the Department of Justice?
The increase in the volume and quality of the work was such as to justify the appointment of an Assistant Secretary and an Assistant Principal to deal with it.
Mr. Ryan
I want to know what was the amount of the increase which justified the appointments. I accept the appointments were justifiable. What was the amount?
The backlog.
I suppose, broadly speaking, the increase would consist of the arrears of work left over by the previous Government.
Mr. Ryan
That kind of answer does no credit to the Parliamentary Secretary. If all he has to do in his unnecessary job is frame smart answers, it is about time he got out of it.
He is only fit for dealing with itinerants.
Order!
Mr. Ryan
With respect, I have asked a supplementary question and I have been given no answer except a smart one. Have we to pay £5,000 for a smart answer in this House? There are plenty of wits besides the Parliamentary Secretary.
Nitwits.
Mr. Ryan
I shall ask the question again.