asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (i) how many competitions were held to fill a recent vacancy for an assistant inspector of mental hospitals; (ii) at how many of the competitions did the person who was ultimately appointed attend as a candidate, and (iii) what additional qualifications did the person ultimately appointed acquire between the date of his last unsuccessful application for the post and the date of the application upon which he was successful.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Assistant Inspector of Mental Hospitals.
Three competitions were held to fill the vacancy referred to in the Deputy's question. As regards the other parts of the question, I should like to draw his attention to the reply which I have just given to his question regarding the post of nursing supervisor in the Department of Health, and to say that as no appointment was made as a result of the first two competitions for the post of assistant inspector of mental hospitals, it would not be proper for me to indicate the identity of any of the candidates.
These competitions were held by the Civil Service Commissioners. It is not the practice of the commissioners to disclose the identity of, or any other information about, unsuccessful candidates at competitions for professional, technical, etc., posts. It would obviously be unfair to disclose such information, in view of the fact that candidates apply on the tacit understanding that the fact that they have done so will be treated in strict confidence. The person appointed to the post following the third competition held was Dr. Vincent Dolphin, M.B., D.P.H., D.P.M.