At Question Time today, I asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs about the filling of a vacant post in the sub-post office at Rockchapel, County Cork, eight or nine months ago. In reply, the Minister pointed out that the post was filled from nominees sent to him through the labour exchange; in other words, that the best qualified person was selected to fill the vacancy.
In 1962, another vacancy occurred at Rockchapel and temporary men carried out the duties of that post over a pretty long period. Of the two men actually employed in a temporary capacity, one was named O'Connor who was married with a wife and four children. This man, being a member of the Defence Forces and genuinely unemployed, had his name supplied through the local labour exchange for relief work. He carried out that work over a certain period and then the labour exchange submitted the name of another man who was in greater need of consideration for employment because he was the father of six children and was receiving greater benefit from the local exchange. The second man was employed for a period of 28 weeks.
O'Connor then went to the labour exchange and was in receipt of unemployment benefit from the time the second man was employed in that post. This second man who was employed, Nolan, was the father of six children. He was employed for 28 weeks in 1961 and for part of 1962. He gave loyal and faithful service and he did the job at a time when the conditions were extremely difficult for anyone travelling in that locality, because bad as the conditions were in County Wicklow at Christmas, they were even worse around Rockchapel.
It was strange that when interviews were held for the previous post that was filled in 1962 both O'Connor and Nolan were called for interview and afterwards the two men were employed in a temporary capacity. That proves that nothing could be held against these two men. The two of them were married men; one had Army service and the other was the father of six children and was drawing £6 a week unemployment benefit. However, when it came to filling this post the Minister decided, in his wisdom, to appoint a single man who was not even registered at the labour exchange. I am anxious to know whether there is a change of policy in this regard. We have always thought that as regards employment the recommendation of the local labour exchange was taken into account. In many instances for other lines of employment we find from time to time that recommendations are being made by the local labour exchange and men are given employment as a result.
However, that was not done in regard to these two men, one the father of six children, and the other the father of four children. There is a third man I have not mentioned because I do not know the background very well. He was also an ex-Army man and he did not get consideration either. I believe, and so do the people in that area believe, that there was victimisation in this case because a man who gave loyal and good service to the post office for a number of years as did one of these men in particular, Nolan, got no consideration good, bad or indifferent. The second man, O'Connor, who also gave faithful service was overlooked.
I sincerely hope the Minister will make a thorough investigation of this case so that the people in this locality will have their minds relieved in this regard because grave doubts do exist. I would further ask the Minister to state whether he received the necessary recommendation in regard to reputation from the person who was appointed. Was he previously employed by the Post Office at any time and, if so, was there a recommendation sent in to the Department? I trust the Minister will clear the air in regard to this appointment.
