asked the Minister for Labour if he deemed it advisable to have age limits included in recent advertisements for staff for his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Labour Advertisements.
57.
The question of age limits is a matter for the Civil Service Commission who draw up the details of the advertisements concerned.
In view of the type of expertise or experience required for these appointments would the Minister not agree that it would be advisable to leave him an open field in the matter and by doing that in the advertisements he could be setting an example to the Civil Service Commission to eliminate the age barrier?
As I have explained, I did not suggest any particular form of advertisement. We just indicated the purpose of the unit and the Civil Service Commission applied the usual age and other requirements for personnel of this kind, as they would in relation to any other part of the public service. Personally, I think the question of age in advertisements is a matter that should be reviewed but as I have explained it is primarily a matter for the Civil Service Commission as to how they produce details in advertisements of this kind.
In regard to an appointment to his Department surely the Department outlines the type of person required, and not the Civil Service Commission. If the Civil Service Commission were asked by the Department to publish an advertisement without prescribing age limits, that could be done.
What they were after was some seniority at the youth end and not extraordinary age at the other end. The whole question of age in advertisements is a matter that should be examined. We have under consideration in my Department the question of whether we should have legislation to govern not only State advertisements but private employment advertisements also because in this country we are apt to dismiss perfectly worthwhile workers at one end and to deny young workers at the other end. It is a large question. I am on the Deputy's side in terms of reform in this area and I hope I will have his support if I produce legislation in this area at the end of the year.
May I ask the Minister why is there such reluctance on his part to ask the Civil Service Commission to conform with what his Department might prefer?
This is the same type of question again.
There would appear to be no reluctance on the part of his Department to go ahead without consulting with another branch of the civil service. Is not that true?
I have given a full account of year-long consultations.
Question No. 58.