asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has appointed a postman to St. Johnston Post Office, County Donegal, the date and nature of such appointment, and the circumstances he took into consideration in arriving at his decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of County Donegal Postman.
47.
An auxiliary postman was appointed at St. Johnston Post Office on 12th November, 1962. The appointment was an unestablished one. The most suitable qualified person was appointed from a list of persons nominated by the Employment Exchange.
It would be contrary to practice to furnish any information regarding the claims or qualifications of applicants as this would entail disclosing information obtained in confidence concerning these persons.
Would the Minister state why, in fact, two interviews were held for this post?
The Deputy may not be aware that two persons carried this post before I made this appointment. One person was taken on in December, 1961 and he was displaced in February, 1962. Another man was taken on then and I made the appointment on the date I have given, on 12th November, 1962.
The Minister has not answered my question. Why were two interviews held?
I have no information here in the supplementary information given me that two interviews were held but I do know that, from my recollection of reading the papers, the list of names supplied by the employment exchange conveyed information that was not correct about one of the persons concerned. It gave a wrong age.
In view of the fact that the applicant must submit his birth certificate, would the Minister give me the birthday of the person who has now taken up the post?
He is over 18 years of age.
But he was not over 18 when the first interview was held?
I cannot tell that.
I have a letter in front of me which was sent from the postmaster in Lifford to Mr. William Edward Carlin who carried out the duties of the post from the month of February and who was displaced by the person now appointed by the Minister. I should like to ask the Minister for an explanation as Carlin is a married man with four children while Peoples is a boy of 18. While I do not object to any young lad getting a job, I strongly object to the fact that a man——
The Deputy is making a statement.
I am asking the Minister to explain something. I am entitled to ask.
I am precluded from giving confidential information that I have in my files——
As to the cumann he belongs to.
——and I made the appointment on the facts before me, as presented in the official report.
Is it not usual to appoint a married man rather than a single man, particularly when he has four children.
One would need to know the full circumstances of the other man's household also.
Arising further out of the Minister's reply——
This could go on all day.
I should like to give notice that I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.