asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether the appointment of Mr. John Fahy, Ardrahan, Galbally, County Limerick, as Warble Fly Inspector, made by the Limerick County Council for the year 1942, was not put into effect; and, if not, if he will give reasons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Warble Fly Inspector.
I understand that this is a question for me rather than for the Minister for Local Government and Public Health.
The appointment of Mr. John Fahy as Warble Fly Inspector was not sanctioned as I was not satisfied that he was eligible having regard to what I understood to be the real intention underlying the county council's condition relating to service in the Civil Defence Forces or the Army.
Is the Minister aware that Mr. John Fahy's application complied with all the terms of the advertisement at the time the appointment was about to be made?
I think that, whether he fulfilled the technical conditions or not, he did not fulfil the spirit of the terms of the advertisement, because he had terminated his services with the Defence Forces only three days before the appointment was made.
Is the Minister not aware that Mr. Fahy was, in effect, a member of the Defence Forces on 1st June, 1941, had been a member of the Defence Forces long before that, and continued to be a member for six months afterwards, when he had to leave on account of the state of his health?
I understand that he left in October, 1941, without giving any explanation. It may have been for reasons of health, but he did not give that explanation, and he rejoined two or three days before the appointment was made.
I cannot see why the fact that he left the Defence Forces in October, 1941, should affect his appointment, in view of the advertisement which said, that anyone in the forces in June, 1941, was eligible. He was a member of the Defence Forces on that specified date, and I cannot understand why this young man should not be given the appointment to which he was elected. So far as I know, there is nothing against his character, and therefore I cannot understand why this should have happened.
There is nothing against the man's character. The only reason is the one I have given.