asked the Minister for Defence the number of civil servants, tradesmen, etc., employed by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Defence Employees.
49.
On 31st October, 1968, the number of civil servants in my Department was 503 and the number of tradesmen, etc., employed in military establishments was 1,507.
Is it the practice of the Minister's Department still to employ, when vacancies occur for labourers, ex-Army or Old IRA personnel or is it the practice to employ people who are retired from other jobs on pension and who have no former military service?
As far as possible, the practice is to employ ex-members of the Army. Not all ex-Army men are tradesmen and many members of the Old I.R.A. are now over the employable age. If I find any such people within the employable age and competent as tradesmen, I go as far as I possibly can to give them a preference.
Even recently, a labourer employed was an ex-CIE employee while ex-Army and Old IRA personnel were passed over. Somebody was employed who was living many miles away from the camp.
It is hard to keep track of every individual case.
I think the Minister is aware of this one.
I may not be. It is hard to keep track of every individual case. I follow the practice as I have indicated.