Vol. 279 No. 8
asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the fact that only a partial survey of three counties has been completed with regard to the archaeological survey in progress and only a small amount of work has been done in three others, he will consider filling the position which has been vacant for three years by the appointment of a Director of Archaeological Survey to the Office of Public Works in order to bring about an adequate level of staffing.
24.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange for the immediate appointment of a Director of the Archaeological Survey.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.
I am glad to say that the position in question, redesignated senior archaeologist, has now been filled.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary how many persons are engaged on this archaeological survey?
That is a different question.
It is not a different question. The point is that I got approval to appoint some people when I was in the Parliamentary Secretary's seat. I want to know how many have been appointed.
When the Deputy was in my seat why did he not appoint them?
I got approval to appoint them and then the Parliamentary Secretary took the office. How many has he got working in that establishment?
That is a separate question.
The point is that I know there are only two or three people working on this survey and it will take 60 or 70 years to complete unless the Parliamentary Secretary pulls up his socks.
Has this senior archaeologist the same functions and duties as the Director of the Archaeological Survey had?
I cannot tell the Deputy that but I will tell him this, that one archaeologist was promoted.
The Parliamentary Secretary is waffling.
I am not waffling. One archaeologist was promoted to the post of chief archaeologist and then another archaeologist was promoted to the post of senior archaeologist.
Neither my question nor Deputy Lemass's question is concerned with these internal arrangements in the Parliamentary Secretary's office. What we are concerned about is the archaeological survey and the question specifically asked if the Parliamentary Secretary will appoint a Director of the Archaeological Survey. Will the Parliamentary Secretary please answer that question directly? Is there a director? If not, does he propose to appoint one and, if so, when?
I cannot answer that offhand, but perhaps the Deputy would put down another question.
That is my question. Normally, the Parliamentary Secretary is very helpful.
My information is that the position in question has been filled.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary assuring me that we now have a Director of the Archaeological Survey?
We have an archaeologist who is chief archaeologist.
That is not my question.
This man was promoted to this post from the position of senior archaeologist. There is a subtle difference between a director of archaeology who is the chief archaeologist——
My question is specific. Both Deputy Lemass's question and mine are concerned with the archaeological survey which concerns a very specific volume of arbitrary work that is undertaken by the Parliamentary Secretary's Office. In the past there has been a director of that survey. My question is whether there now such a director and, if not, whether it is proposed to appoint one and when.
The director of archaeology has been given the new title of chief archaeologist.
The Parliamentary Secretary is cheating.
I ask permission of the Chair to have this question tabled again within the stipulated time limit.
The Deputy's request will be considered.
The remaining question will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
