asked the Minister for Local Government whether Section 51, sub-section (3) (c), of the Electoral Act, 1923, applies to persons employed in Government Departments for seasonal and short-term employment or as industrial, agricultural or similar workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Application of Electoral Act.
Sub-section (3) (c) of Section 51 of the Electoral Act, 1923, provides that a person shall be incapable of being elected or sitting as a member of Dáil Éireann who is either temporarily or permanently in the Civil Service unless he is by the terms of his employment expressly permitted to be a member of Dáil Éireann. I am not authorised by the Act to give a ruling in regard to the application of the sub-section to any particular person or class of persons. This would be a matter for the courts to decide. It seems to me, however, that the sub-section would apply to the persons referred to by the Deputy.