asked the Minister for Finance if he will state with regard to the lady recently appointed by him to the post of nursing supervisor in the Department of Health (i) if she has held at any time the post of matron; and, if so, in what hospital; and (ii) if she has had wide experience in general nursing; and, if so, whether he will state the nursing posts she has held, the period for which she held each such post, and the nature of the nursing experience gained by her in each; also whether he will state if it is a fact that two of the unsuccessful candidates for the post held, and still hold the position of matron in large Dublin hospitals, and whether one of these in addition has exceptional nursing qualifications.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Health Nursing Supervisor.
As far as I am aware, the lady referred to has not at any time held the post of matron in any hospital. I am satisfied that she has had wide experience in general nursing and in that and all other respects possessed in full the qualifications specified as essential for the post. I doubt, however, that it would be altogether fair to her to make public without her consent, information regarding the posts previously held by her, which it must be assumed she gave in confidence in connection with her application for the post she now holds.
While the names of the successful candidates at competitions held by the Civil Service Commissioners for established professional, technical, etc., posts are published in Iris Oifigiúil, it is not the practice of the commissioners to publish any information as to the identity of the other candidates, and consequently I am unable to supply the information sought in the concluding part of the Deputy's question.
I should perhaps say, however, that the qualifications, experience, suitability, etc., of all the candidates for the post of nursing supervisor were fully and carefully investigated by the Civil Service Commissioners, with the assistance of a competent interview board, the membership of which included persons of standing in the medical and nursing professions and that the lady appointed to the post was the candidate who had been adjudged to be the best qualified, in the light of the qualifications specified for the post.
These qualifications did not call for experience as matron. They required, however, amongst other things, "satisfactory experience in a senior nursing post, for example, matron, assistant matron, public health nursing supervisor, sister tutor." The lady appoint-to the post had, prior to her appointment, held a number of important senior nursing posts.