asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has issued by circular or otherwise to those semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department any standards, particularly in regard to a knowledge of Irish, which were considered necessary for the filling of vacancies in such bodies; and if he will indicate their nature.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Filling of Vacancies in Semi-State Bodies.
20.
A letter was issued by my predecessor to the various statutory companies and semi-State bodies for which he was responsible indicating that it was the desire of the Government that full weight should be given to the importance of Irish in connection with appointments and promotions made by them and urging that to the utmost practicable extent they should apply, in connection with appointments and promotions made by them, conditions and requirements in regard to Irish corresponding to those in the Civil Service.
In the case of C.I.E. there is a provision in the Transport Acts providing that entry to the clerical grades (with certain limited exceptions) shall be by open competition and that Irish shall be a compulsory subject in every open competition held under the Act.
Is the Minister aware that when an application was recently made to a semi-State body in Irish, the application was answered in English? The person was never subsequently interviewed but was written to again in English and told that the appointment was made. In the light of all these facts, is it possible that the person who received the letter did not understand what was written in Irish? Would the Minister not also consider that anybody who makes an application to semi-State bodies is at least entitled to an interview?
I should be very glad if the Deputy would give me particulars of this case because I have very few complaints of that kind. The number of complaints made to me by persons with a good knowledge of the Irish language is almost negligible. If the Deputy will give me particulars of the case, I shall have the matter investigated.
In case the Minister should think it is C.I.E., let me tell him that it is not. It is Bord na Móna.
I should be very surprised in that case.