asked the Minister for Finance whether Mr. Dan Sheridan, carpenter-in-charge, Marlboro' Street Schools, with 18 years' service, and Mr. C. Crothers, carpenter-in-charge, Division A, with 17 years' service, have been dismissed and their positions filled by the appointment of Messrs. Brady and Ward; and if so, why these dismissals and appointments have taken place.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer and Dismissal of Carpenters-in-Charge.
Mr. D. Sheridan reached the age of 65 years, which is the normal age for retirement, on the 20th October, 1941, but was retained on the service up to his 69th birthday. He was not dismissed. On retirement he had completed 11 years' service. Mr. C. Crothers was dismissed for misconduct. At the date of dismissal he had completed 12 years' service.
The vacancies were filled by the promotions of Messrs. Brady and Ward.
Is it not true that Messrs. Brady and Ward both come from the County Cavan and that one is connected either by blood or marriage with the ex-Parliamentary Secretary?
It is not true.
I have no connection either by blood or marriage with anybody, so far as I know, in the County Cavan.
Anyhow, it is a deliberate lie.
Did both come from Cavan?
I have already informed the Deputy that I do not mind where they come from so long as they are qualified for the work they are employed to do.
Did not the Deputy go from Mayo to Monaghan himself?
I did, and kicked out one of your men.
asked the Minister for Finance whether all carpenters-in-charge in the Dublin district were recently changed from their positions to other positions despite protests from the responsible architects; and whether, in the course of these changes, Messrs. Brady and Ward were appointed to the Four Courts and Kevin Street respectively.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In the course of changes which were made Messrs. Brady and Ward were transferred as stated in the question.
Was that transfer made for the purpose of concealing the fact that their appointment as carpenters-in-charge was taking place, and that Crothers and Sheridan had been dismissed?
It was not.
The Deputy must be reading some of the Molly Maguire tracts.
I am reading facts well known to everybody in the Board of Works.
asked the Minister for-Finance whether Mr. P. Brady, carpenter-in-charge at the Four Courts, was transferred to Dundrum Asylum as carpenter-in-charge; whether this arose from any incident in connection with his duties at the Four Courts; and whether this transfer coincided with the retirement of the carpenter-in-charge at Dundrum after 40 years' service.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. Mr. Brady's transfer coincided with the retirement of the carpenter-in-charge at Dundrum who had completed 25 years'service, not 40 years, as stated in the question.
Is it not true that Mr. Brady, on the day of his appointment, got into a tedious wrangle with the boilerman and demanded a written apology, which the boilerman would not give? The architect in charge came on the scene, and eventually Brady was told that he had better pull in his horns, even though he was a friend of the Parliamentary Secretary's and was appointed to Dundrum?
If the Deputy is prepared to swallow everything he hears about town I am not responsible for that.
I am not. I am asking you about things you ought to know.
I am not supposed to know everything that you may hear.
asked the Minister for Finance why Mr. P. Hayden, carpenter-in-charge, Division A, was dismissed after 17 years' service; and whether this dismissal was confirmed by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance.
Mr. P. Hayden had 11 years' service as carpenter-in-charge, not 17 as stated in the question. His employment as such was terminated owing to general deterioration in his efficiency. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.
Is it not true that Hayden, the carpenter-in-charge, rebuked three labourers imported from the County Cavan for coming to their work without shovels to do the duties they were called upon to discharge which required them to carry shovels; that he dismissed them, and that the three labourers went over to the Board of Works and were reinstated, and that in a few days Mr. Hayden was dismissed? Are these the facts?
No, it is not true.
They are.
asked the Minister for Finance what procedure was followed in the appointment of Mr. Kennedy as carpenter-in-charge of the new half of the old Division A, and of Mr. Lennon as carpenter-in-charge of the other half of the old Division A.
The procedure followed in the promotions of Messrs. Kennedy and Lennon to carpenters-incharge was the normal one of selecting from the eligible and qualified men those considered at the time to be the most suitable.
asked the Minister for Finance whether Thomas Brennan has been promoted to position of foreman in Division A and, after two months, to the position of carpenter-in-charge, Botanic Gardens, and what are his qualifications for this position.
Thomas Brennan was appointed workman foreman on 15th November, 1943, and as carpenter-in-charge on 8th February, 1945. He has all the qualifications required.
Is Mr. Brennan's principal qualification the fact that he is a brother to the private secretary of the ex-Parliamentary Secretary?
The principal qualification of this man is that he is a first-class tradesman and is capable of taking charge of men.
How is it that when he applied for promotion to the late Mr. Hugo Flinn, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, his application was rejected on the grounds that he was not competent for such a position? Now, being a brother to the private secretary to the ex-Parliamentary Secretary, a brother to the Taoiseach's Aide-de-camp, and with another brother in the public service, he is promoted to the position of carpenter-in-charge. Is that his principal qualification?
Somebody in Cavan is pulling your leg.