To ask the Minister for Local Government the reasons why Nurse Denn, who was suspended some months ago by the Vice-Guardians of the Cork Union, has not been allowed to resume duty, although her suspension has been removed by the Local Government Board. Further, to ask whether the Vice-Guardians have authority to override the decisions of the Local Government Department, and whether the Department will see that its decisions are not ignored, and that it will insist that the actions of the Vice-Guardians will be actuated by justice and not by prejudice, as in this case, and whether the Department will order that Nurse Denn be allowed to resume duty immediately.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - SUSPENSION OF A NURSE.
RIOBARD O DEAGHAIDH
MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT (Mr. E. Blythe)
On the 20th September, 1922, I was informed that Nurse Denn had not been permitted to resume duty on terms of the letter of the former Minister for Local Government dated 29th July, 1922, and I immediately ordered that she be allowed to resume duty at once. I cannot accept the statement that the Vice-Guardians had been actuated by prejudice in suspending Nurse Denn. Nurse Denn absented herself without leave and they had already cautioned her. The delay in dealing with this case is due to the difficulty in getting into communication with Cork for some time past. The Department will see that their orders are carried out in this case, and in any other case under their authority.
RIOBARD O DEAGHAIDH
Would the Minister be surprised to hear that Nurse Denn has not yet resumed duty?
Mr. BLYTHE
No, I would not be surprised.