asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether a position of postman has recently been filled at Knocknagoshel, County Kerry; and, if so, if he will state (a) the method by which the appointment was made; (b) the age of the appointee; (c) the number of dependents and the ages of applicants' families and (d) the nature of national service, pre-Truce or emergency, of each applicant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Kerry Postman.
andMr. Palmer asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (1) if he is aware that a vacancy for a postman existed in Knocknagoshel, County Kerry; (2) if an appointment has now been made to fill the vacant post; (3) if the appointee has the necessary qualifications as required by his Department, and (4) if he has satisfied himself that the man selected has qualifications equal to or superior to those of other applicants for the post.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, it is proposed to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.
Part-time postman vacancies are filled from lists of persons supplied by employment exchanges and from applicants who are already temporarily unemployed. It would be contrary to practice to furnish the particulars asked for regarding the applicants for the recent vacancy for part-time postman at Knocknagoshel Post Office.
The person appointed, who is 43 years of age, has the necessary qualifications and he is the most suitable of the applicants.
Perhaps the Minister would inform the House as to how this man could have been appointed. He is 43 years of age now and I was informed by the Minister for Defence to-day that he was given a service medal. I submit that it is purely a case of Fianna Fáil political jobbery when a man who served for five years during the emergency is put out of a temporary appointment and a Fianna Fáil appointee given a service medal in order to give him the job.
You never heard of the Fianna Éireann.
According to the Minister's statement this man was only 12 years of age in 1921.
Will the Minister state the number of applicants for the post? Were they all interviewed?
I have given the Deputy all the information I think should be provided. As I have said, the appointment was filled in accordance with the regulations.
Would the Minister state if the man who acted as temporary postman since June last was interviewed?
I have said that the persons whose names were submitted by the labour exchange were interviewed and all the regulations were complied with in the appointment that was made.
Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply given I wish to raise this matter on the adjournment.
I will communicate my decision to the Deputy.