asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (a) the number of applicants for the position of sub-postmaster at Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, (b) the age of each applicant, (c) whether married or single, (d) the number of children and other dependents, and (e) the other business or avocation of each applicant, indicating under each heading the person appointed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Sub-Postmaster.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state in respect of each applicant for the position of sub-postmaster at Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, the size of the premises offered, the valuation thereof,the purpose for which it was heretofore used, the tenure of the applicant in such premises and the reasons for the selection of the premises selected.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together. I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a rather similar question by him on this subject yesterday.
May I ask the Minister if he was aware that the appointee is a secondary teacher, a young man and unmarried? He may at present, as he did up to recently, act as joint secretary of the local Fianna Fáil Cumann. Other men, responsible citizens with large and dependent families, possessing all the qualifications, were not considered. On what particular ground did the appointment take place? Was it because the appointee was a secondary teacher in full-time employment, that he was an unmarried man, or that he was joint secretary of the local Fianna Fáil Cumann?
Is the Deputy aware that the town of Abbeyfeale is an important one? The post office there transacts business at a very high level. The person most highly recommended in every circumstance was appointed and, therefore, anything the Deputy says has no bearing whatsoever on the matter.
Is it normal to appoint a secondary teacher in full-time appointment to the position of sub-postmaster?
It would take some time to answer that question in full; but in regard to post offices, because of the size of Abbeyfeale very special considerations enter into the appointment. Abbeyfeale, along with eight or ten other towns, comes very near the limit for a Civil Service post office, and for that reason every care was exercised in making the appointment.
Can the Minister say whether he has got an undertaking that the man appointed to the post is giving up his other appointment?
Further, is the Minister aware that about this day week one ofhis engineers and some technicians arrived at Abbeyfeale to install certain fittings essential to the conduct of the post office and the owner of the house objected and prevented the officers carrying out the essential installations? Further, is the Minister aware that the said owner, Mr. Kelly, is a brother-in-law of a Fianna Fáil Deputy?
Now it is coming out.
What does the Taoiseach say to that?
Would the Deputy tell the House that the gentleman he is interested in is the treasurer of the local Fine Gael branch, that he is a master tailor employing labour and his wife is conducting a drapery business?
Is the Deputy asking a question?
He is apologising for what he has done.