andMr. Harte asked the Minister for Local Government if he is now prepared to state the names of newly-appointed driving testers; and, if not, if he will indicate when he would be prepared to do so.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Driving Testers.
30.
I refer the Deputies to my reply to a similar question on 14th April last. There has been no change in the position since that date. I shall consider whether the names of the driver testers should be released when all of the first group selected have taken up duty.
When does the Minister anticipate they will have taken up duty?
Probably in the next month or six weeks.
Can we expect the names to be published in the next month or six weeks?
That is not quite what I said. I said that I expect all of them will have taken up duty in the next month or six weeks.
Is there some mysterious reason why the anonymity of these appointees is being preserved?
Probably the Deputies who put down the question could answer that one for the Leader of their Party.
I am not addressing it to the Deputies; I am addressing it to the Minister. Is there any reason for preserving this unique and mysterious anonymity? Is it not natural that we should be interested to know who the persons are and where they will operate?
And what cumann they belong to.
Is the Minister serious in saying that he will not publish their names or addresses?
I do not know whether I shall ever publish their addresses.
Surely we must know, if we are to take driving tests?
Is it because they are all from Cork?
Is there a reason why the mysterious anonymity of these appointees should be preserved? It seems to me to be quite disproportionate. Why should we not know who the three driving testers in the Irish Republic are?
Six.
They will go down in history as being as famous as the greatest names in history if we never find out who they are.
I referred the Deputy to my previous replies.
What were they?
Is it public policy——
Obviously it is private policy. They have not yet settled their internal differences.
Order. The Leaders of Fine Gael and Labour should go out and have their conversation in the smokeroom.
The Minister for Health is not suggesting we should smoke?
They can talk there, anyway.