asked the Minister for Lands if he will make further inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the appointment of the supervising ganger in Cloughanealy district (referred to in his answer to a question on May 1st, 1935); and if he will cause strict inquiry to be made as to whether there were two separate examinations held in Breslin's Hotel, Bunbeg, a period of about four weeks elapsing between the two examinations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Ganger.
The Departmental Selection Board interviewed the candidates in Bunbeg, Gortahork, and, in some cases, in their homes some four weeks after the Housing Surveyor and his assistant had interviewed applicants for the purpose of ascertaining their general fitness for examination by the Selection Board. Marks were allotted to the candidates at the latter interview, but not at the preliminary interview carried out by the Housing Surveyor.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, I take it that it means that in fact there were two interviews and that, so far as the candidates were aware, there were two examinations.
There was only one examination, and the candidates or the Deputy may be under a misapprehension in respect of the proceedings. Firstly there was an interview with a view to ascertaining the capabilities of the candidates. Subsequent to that, they were examined and marks were awarded in accordance with their abilities, and the position was given to the candidate with the highest marks.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary of the opinion that it is desirable to summon candidates with a view to eliminating certain people, and only to allow other people to sit for the examination? Does he think that that is a fair way to describe it as an open examination?
The examination was fair and open, inasmuch as all the candidates were of a very high standard and all were allowed to stand.