(Cavan): asked the Minister for Education whether he recently sent out a communication marked “confidential” addressed to CEOs of vocational education committees and headmasters of vocational schools; if so, what exactly was meant to be conveyed by the marking “confidential”; and if he considers it proper to address such a communication to employees of vocational education committees and prohibit them from disclosing the contents to the committees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Communication to Vocational Officers.
137.
Mr. O'Malley
My Department recently issued a circular letter to chief executive officers, managers of secondary schools, and principals of vocational schools and secondary tops in relation to the proposed scheme for free transport. The Deputy is under a misapprehension: the circular was not marked confidential. The accompanying memorandum dealing with the detailed organisation of the scheme was marked confidential, as it related to those people only who would be concerned in the organisation of the scheme of transport.
I should like to remind the Deputy that in the matter of transport, the chief executive officers are acting not as employees of the vocational education committees but as my agents. This was made clear in the official letter of the 3rd February, sent to all vocational education committees. The committee of which the Deputy is a member agreed at their meeting on 20th February, to make available the services of their chief executive officer on this basis.
(Cavan): I should just like to get this clarified, if I can. Is the Minister saying that a circular was not issued to headmasters, marked “confidential”, that that circular was not made available to vocational committees?
Mr. O'Malley
I said that the circular was not marked "confidential" but that the accompanying memorandum was marked "confidential".
(Cavan): Am I correct in thinking that at the same meeting the committee were asked to provide additional secretrial assistance without having the contents of the circular made available to them?
Mr. O'Malley
I think the members of the commitees were aware of the contents of both the circular and the memorandum.
(Cavan): Does the Minister agree that the letter which contained enclosures was marked “confidential” and that that led the recipients to believe they were not at liberty to make the contents of either the letter or the enclosures available to the committee?
Mr. O'Malley
I do not think so. I think the explanation I have given is reasonable. The circular was not marked "confidential"; the memorandum was so marked. The contents were discussed at the various meetings of committees of vocational bodies throughout the country and formal permission was given to CEOs in most instances to act as agents of the Department in the free transport scheme. I do not know what point the Deputy is making. Have I done anything wrong? Have I done anything wrong in sending out this circular? I do not know what point the Deputy is making.
(Cavan): Neither do I. I do not know whether the Minister has done anything wrong or has done anything right because a communication was sent to them on the understanding that they would not disclose the contents to the committee. I think that is fundamentally wrong and an insult to the members who were asked to serve on the committee.
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy as usual, I am sorry to say, is making an irresponsible, sweeping statement. If he listened to my reply—it may be that I did not speak sufficiently loudly or because of my accent or something—he would have heard that the circular and memorandum were issued to managers of secondary schools, chief executive officers, principals of vocational schools and secondary tops. I cannot anticipate what the feelings of individuals will be on receipt of a letter. People react differently but I do not know why the Deputy is making a mountain out of a molehill.
(Cavan): This particular document was marked confidential and they were not allowed to show it to the committee.