asked the Minister for Social Welfare why employment exchange branch managers are not permitted by his Department to remain as branch managers if they become members of local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Exchange Managers.
12.
Branch managers of employment offices in my Department give a direct service to the public in such confidential areas as the taking of claims to unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance, pay-related benefit and redundancy payments, the payment of these claims and the submission of workers for employment on local schemes of public works carried out by county councils and other public bodies. In view of the confidential nature of their duties it is considered that branch managers should not be known adherents of a political party or be members of county councils or other local authorities. Furthermore it is regarded as most important that branch managers should not be left open to charges of political bias in the discharge of their special functions on behalf of the Department.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not think that employment exchange branch managers have the same right to hold a seat on a local authority as employees of the Post Office?
As I explained, branch managers' duties are of such a confidential nature that if what the Deputy suggests were done it would possibly give rise to charges against them of political bias in the discharge of their duties. This means it would not be appropriate that this particular category of people should be members of local authorities.
Are not the same or similar duties of a confidential nature performed by clerical officers and lower staff in health offices dealing with medical cards, home assistance and other benefits? Would branch managers not therefore be entitled to the same facilities as the other officials?
No. There is very little comparison between the responsibilities and duties of a clerical officer and a branch manager.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if there is any real difference between the branch managers and home assistance officers?
In what respect?
In respect of the question asked.
Confidentiality.
There would be a degree of confidentiality but I also mentioned that branch managers select workers or potential workers and submit their names for employment on local schemes of work carried out by county councils and other public bodies. In the overall situation it would not be appropriate to accept the suggestion in the question.
Are there not officials up to the grade of clerical officer employed in the road section of each county council who have a say in the selection of workers? The Parliamentary Secretary's argument falls down on that.
The Chair has allowed a large number of supplementary questions. This is developing into an argument.
I do not agree with the Deputy. It is not true in that the branch manager submits from the total number of unemployed on his register, the names of those he considers to be suitable——
And the clerical officer selects them after the branch manager submits them.
Not necessarily.
He does.
Question No. 13, please.