asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state with regard to the appointment of auxiliary postmen (a) what qualifications are required, (b) whether preference is given to married men who are unemployed, (c) whether temporary service in a satisfactory manner is taken into account; and (d) if the postmaster's recommendations are considered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Auxiliary Postmen.
33.
Applicants for appointment as auxiliary postman must in general be between 18 and 65 years of age and in good health, live within a three mile radius of the office of employment, be at least 5' 2" in height, possess a good character and a reasonable standard of education, and have a good knowledge of Irish in the case of a Gaeltacht office. They must also be nominated by an employment exchange. Other things being equal unemployed married men receive special consideration. The answer to (c) and (d) of the question is yes.
Is any time limit fixed between the time of the appointment of a subpostmaster and the time the temporary man is in the position?
We are talking about postmen.
Say there are six names sent by the local postmaster, has the Minister not power to select one of the six sent by the local postmaster and has it not happened that a temporary postman was appointed——
The Deputy is making a speech.
The Deputy is trying to bring something into the open. Will the Minister answer my question?
No question has been put to me.
I am inquiring about the time allowed for the appointment of a postman. From the date of the advertisement, what length of time is given to any other man in a temporary capacity?
I make the appointment when the inquiries are fully completed and not until then, and since I came into the Department, I have made the appointments as quickly as I possibly could after the vacancies have been declared.
What is the Minister's interpretation of "as quickly as I can"?
I cannot make them until the proposals are submitted to me. It is my function to appoint the person I think the most suitable for the appointment. I do not think I am obliged to explain in any case why I think the person whom I appoint is the person most suitable so long as that person is a qualified person.
He has to be a member of the local cumann. The Minister should have included that.
They are formidable qualifications for the job of postman.