asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider appointing to the post of paperkeeper certain messengers in the Civil Service, who have passed the examination for paperkeeper but who have failed an oral Irish test, provided they have carried out their work satisfactorily for a period of at least 12 months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Service Paperkeepers.
12.
The provisions of the recent confined competition for positions as paperkeeper are governed by statutory regulations made by the Civil Service Commissioners. It would not be possible to amend these regulations retrospectively in favour of individual applicants.
Would not the Minister agree that the regulation which prevents a man who has been carrying out a job satisfactorily for 12 months from being appointed permanently to that job, is rather foolish? Further, would he look into the matter to see if something can be done at this stage to alter the regulation for the future?
I do not agree and I could not undertake to look into the regulations with a view to making this kind of alteration. I think it is clear enough that the tests which are conducted in relation to Irish are simple. Indeed, in the last examination which was held in September there were 40 candidates who qualified and of these only six failed in the Irish test. The competitions are held at fairly regular intervals and it is possible for the candidates who intend taking part to prepare themselves for the competition. The results show that they can do so.
Would not the Minister agree that the tests do not relate to the job? If a person has been carrying out his duties satisfactorily for more than 12 months, I do not see why somebody else who is successful in an Irish test that is not relative to the work, should be appointed. Is it that the Department are interested in getting a cut price job done?
I do not know how the question of cut price comes into this. I have indicated that these competitions are held at frequent intervals and that the vast majority of candidates pass the test.
Question No. 13.
Could the Minister tell us at what grade in the Civil Service or for Government appointments is a knowledge of Irish essential?
That is a separate question.
Does the Deputy mean a knowledge of Irish that is essential to qualify a person for the position?
Yes.
I am speaking offhand now but so far as I know, it is at all levels of entry.
Is it necessary in the case of the appointment of a chairman of a semi-State body or the appointment of a judge?
I thought the Deputy referred to the Civil Service.
I included Government appointments.
As the Deputy is aware it is not necessary in such positions.
It is not used anyway.
It is used. It may be true, as the Deputy has said, that people have carried on for 12 months and found that they did not need Irish but in some cases when Irish would be needed, somebody else would have to do the work of the person who was not qualified in Irish.
That is not so in the case I have in mind because there was nobody else there.
Is it not true that people in the top bracket salary do not need any Irish?
It is French and German from then on.
The truth of the matter is that at a very high level in the public service Irish is used frequently in the course of one's job.
I am talking about certain qualifications.
Even Ministers do not have to have a knowledge of Irish.
Or Deputies.
If they were so required, we would have very few Deputies.