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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Dec 1974

Vol. 276 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Postmen Eligibility Age.

60.

asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will increase the eligibility age for postmen from 40 to 45 years.

The age limits for postmen competitions are fixed by the Civil Service Commissioners with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service. The Commissioners are satisfied that the upper age limit of 40 is adequate for recruitment purposes and I see no reason for not consenting to that limit.

(Dublin Central): Would the Minister agree that with the number of redundancies that are taking place in the private sector today, if the same age limit were applied many people's chances of being re-employed would be remote? The Minister should raise the limit from 40 to 45.

I should like to emphasise that it is not for the Minister to lay down these conditions. My function in the matter is merely to consent or refuse to give my consent to conditions which are laid down by the Civil Service Commissioners. I am informed that at present there are an adequate number of applicants for the posts that arise in the post office and that as long as there is an adequate supply of applicants within this age bracket there is obviously no need to vary the age limits. The age limits have been changed in the past. At one time the age limit was 25. It was raised to 30 several years ago and in 1970 it was raised to 40 years. The matter is kept under constant review and I will bear in mind what the Deputy says if and when I am asked by the Commissioners to vary the limits.

May I suggest that the Minister is going a little too far in what he said in reply to that question and, indeed, what he said in reply to an earlier question when he suggested that his only function in this matter is to approve of the conditions laid down by the Civil Service Commissioners? I would ask the Minister to agree with me that is not a fair representation of the Minister's position. Is it not true that the Minister can specify the kind of conditions he wants and then it is for the Civil Service Commissioners to lay them down in detail to ensure that there is fair play and is it not true that in questions which the Minister is about to answer he himself and not the Civil Service Commissioners made the decisions on whether, for instance, Irish should or should not be required?

Regulations relating to all competitions conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners are made by the Civil Service Commissioners. They are made, as all people reasonably expect, in consultation with the Minister for the Public Service and the Minister for the specific Department that is primarily interested in the qualifications of the people recruited to perform work in that Department. The actual authority for laying down the conditions is the Civil Service Commissioners and not the Minister. The Minister is simply there as a party with whom the Civil Service Commissioners consult and in certain cases the Minister's consent has to be given before the Commissioners may proceed with a particular competition.

Is it not true that the question of age is not basically one for the Commissioners?

Frankly, I have not got sufficient detailed information about the consultative process here to know who it is lays down this but here, as in other cases, of course, the Minister who would be concerned with the conduct of people after recruitment would have to express his views as to the type of age group that would be appropriate.

That is my point.

Obviously, if the work was something that would be particularly arduous there would be something to be said for having a lower age limit because it might not be suitable for people of advanced years but these are consultative roles that the Minister has. The conditions are ultimately laid down by the Commissioners.

If the Minister felt that the change suggested was desirable could he initiate a move to request the Commisisoners to make the change?

It is certainly open to me or any Minister at any time to make suggestions to the Civil Service Commissioners about changes.

The answer is "yes".

That is what I have said.

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