asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will state the name of the clerk to the Pensions Committee for Cork County; his salary for that office; by whom he was appointed; his years of service in that position, and whether the position is pensionable.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CORK COUNTY PENSIONS COMMITTEE.
Any inquiry in these matters should be addressed to the County Council.
Does the Minister not know the salary paid to these officials?
It is absurd and, I suggest, a misuse of the privileges of the House that a Deputy who is a member of the County Council would ask a Minister what is the name of the secretary. In the second place, it is absurd that a question would be put to the Minister as to what was the particular salary of a person down there, because certain increments of salary accrue at particular times, and the Minister would have no information about that without reference to the County Council. In the third place, in the matter of pensions, if a Deputy cannot be informed locally that an office is pensionable, then it would be wrong possibly for the Minister to state whether it was or not, because on the termination of the office the Minister might be called upon to act in a judicial capacity and say whether the office was pensionable or not; that is, if the Deputy cannot be told at the County Council office that the position is pensionable.
Arising out of the Minister's answer, might I ask if he is aware that Deputy Corry has been for the last five years a member of Cork County Council and that, notwithstanding that fact, he is still in ignorance of the name of the secretary of the County Council? Will the Minister consider the desirability of bringing in legislation for the purpose of putting a qualification on the intelligence of candidates for the County Council?
Is the Minister aware that an agreement was come to for an inclusive salary as long ago as two years as regards the secretary of the County Council, and that that agreement is at present in the bag of Deputy Jasper Wolfe, waiting until the present County Council goes out, so that an inclusive salary will be sanctioned?
The Minister must only be asked questions relating to his Department. Neither of these questions seems to relate to his Department.