Vol. 198 No. 5
asked the Minister for Justice why, after the Civil Service Commissioners had placed applicants for the Garda entrance examination, he has now called on the first 200 and informed all others that they will have to sit for a new examination; if this has been done before; and, if so, on what dates.
42.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that in the recent examination for entry into the Garda Síochána it has been decided that only a proportion of those who qualified are to be called for entry to the Force; and whether he will return to the practice in previous examinations of the same type and ensure that all who qualify in this examination will be called.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
All advertisements for the Garda Síochána Entrance Examinations clearly state that passing the examination will not give any entitlement to appointment. It has been the practice for some years past to call for interview and medical examination all those who qualified in the written examination. Because of the large numbers so qualifying and the limited numbers of vacancies arising, the time-lag between the date of publication of the results of the Examination and that of the call-up was so great—in some cases almost two years—that I have come to the conclusion that, for the future, the proper course is to hold two examinations each year and to call a limited number, say 200, from each of these examinations. This will ensure that the time-lag between qualifying and call-up will be considerably shortened and that highly qualified candidates who would otherwise be attracted to other employment will not be lost to the Force.
Will the Minister agree that he has altered a practice that has been in operation over a number of years, and that it is a disappointment to a number of candidates in the recent examination who qualified and are now informed that they will not be called? Taking all the circumstances into account will he call those who qualified in the recent examination, or make a public statement that it is the intention of the Department to alter a practice that has been in operation for a number of years? I will let him off with that much, and possibly I may have a few more.
I should like to point out that the advertisement which was published makes it clear that appointment to the Garda Síochána will be made from eligible candidates. Passing the examination will not give any entitlement to appointment.
Is the Minister aware that for the first time notices were sent out to the candidates that they had passed the examination, without further comment? It was not until about a week later notices followed stating that "inasmuch as you got 260th place and there are only 200 vacancies, you are not eligible for appointment and it is suggested you take a second examination". Is the Minister aware that that procedure was never followed before and that it has caused a great deal of disappointment and upset throughout the country?
I am not sure it has never been followed before. I agree it has not been the practice in recent years. The practice in recent years has been to call everybody who qualified at the examination. I want to point out, however, that the examination is conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners. It is only one of the qualifying elements. There are still tests in oral Irish, a medical examination and so on. The notices which were sent out were merely an indication from the Civil Service Commissioners to the effect that the person concerned had passed the qualifying examination. The advertisement published made it absolutely clear that the mere passing of that examination did not entitle anyone to be called. The situation was that we were getting to the ridiculous stage that, if all the candidates who qualified in the recent examination were to be called, it would be late in 1965 before some of them would be called. Most Deputies will agree that that would be an entirely undesirable position. I am endeavouring to get back to the situation where almost immediately after an examination is held, the persons who qualify will be called for interview.
Is the Minister going to create a precedent which might prevent people who did not come high in the examination but who nevertheless had qualities of physique, health or adaptability from being called at all? If the Minister in the examination is to limit the number of people to be interviewed, could that not exclude some of the very finest types?
I do not agree.
In view of the change adopted, would the Minister not consider in those cases giving notice before adopting the measures he has taken? I think everyone will agree it is desirable that what the Minister has in mind should be put into operation, but at least some notice should be given. A number of applicants sat for the examination on the assumption that, having passed it, they would be called.
They could not know they would pass.
Having passed, they assumed they would be called within six or nine months.
We acted as promptly as possible. Following the notice by the Civil Service Commissioners, a notice was sent to all concerned stating whether or not they would be called. Nobody was left under any misapprehension for any length of time. At most, it was only a matter of days. We have brought forward the next examination to March, which will enable a lot of those disappointed on this occasion to sit again.
Would the Minister not agree that the regulations for the examination were similar to the regulations for previous examinations? If the Minister has a glut of qualified applicants, as he himself mentioned, why should he have another examination in the course of a few months? In view of all the circumstances, will the Minister now agree to retract his decision and give all those who qualified in that examination an opportunity of sitting for the oral Irish examination and the medical examination? If the Minister does so, he will have the approval of the House.
The Deputy is making a speech.
Grave disappointment was caused to young fellows who were informed one day they had qualified and the following day they had not qualified. That was the effect of the Department's circular. This is a very serious matter.
Would the Minister consider, in the case of the next 50 applicants or thereabouts who passed, extending the age limit by one year to enable those on the margin of the age limit at the last examination to sit for the next examination?
I am not sure if that would be of any help. I imagine it would have some repercussions at the other end of the scale, but I shall look into it.
In view of the fact that the Minister has led some hundreds of young men up the garden path, would he now have second thoughts and consider allowing them through before Christmas? Some of those will be over age in March. Will he consider allowing them to sit for the second examination?
Deputy MacEoin put that question much more succinctly and clearly.
The reply from the Minister was not half so distinct.
Before I came to this decision, all the circumstances were very carefully examined by myself, my advisers and by the authorities in the Garda Síochána. This was decided on after most careful examination as the only feasible solution to this problem which has presented itself. I do not admit for one moment that we have been unfair to anybody.
Nobody agrees with the Minister.
Applicants were informed within a matter of days after receipt of the notice from the Civil Service Commissioners as to the exact position.
Will the Minister agree to review the position?
