§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, How many medical men connected with the English lunatic asylums' service have been promoted during the past ten years to Irish asylums; what number of Irish asylum doctors have been promoted to English asylums; whether the asylums' service in Ireland, England, and Scotland are distinct from each other; are they differently governed; and are the qualifications of officers different; whether such an officer as a consulting and visiting physician exists in connection with the English and Scotch asylums; whether this officer has been removed from the English and Scotch asylums; if so, why has he been removed; what was the service of the two superintendents prior to their being taken from English asylums and appointed to the Castlebar District Asylum—namely, Dr. Conolly Norman, appointed in 1882 or 1883, and Dr. Finigan in 1885; what was the service of the then principal candidates for the Irish asylum service—namely, Dr. D. Exeter Jordan, of Castlebar, Dr. Taylor, of Dundrum, and Dr. Myles, of the Richmond Asylum, Dublin; what was the official position—and the pay attached to it—held by the medical men in England previously to their appointment by Lord Spencer to the important posts of superintendents of Irish asylums; and, why was Dr. Conolly Norman so quickly promoted to the Monaghan County Asylum from Castlebar?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Sir WILLIAM HAET DYKE)The object of these Questions appears to be to ascertain from me what reasons were in Lord Spencer's mind when he made certain appointments. It is obviously impossible for me to know 46 this with certainty; but I have no objection to state what the facts are as disclosed by the Papers. Dr. Norman was for over six years an assistant at Monaghan Asylum; from there he came to the Bethlehem Asylum, London, and on the occurrence of a vacancy at Castlebar in 1882 was appointed to it by Lord Cowper. When the Monaghan Asylum became vacant this year Dr. Norman applied to be transferred, on the ground that he would have there increased facilities for pursuing his special studies in connection with lunacy, and Lord Spencer acceded to the request. The Governors of Castlebar Asylum bore very favourable testimony to Dr. Norman's qualifications, and his testimonials are of the highest character. He obtains no pecuniary benefit by the change. For the vacancy at Castlebar Lord Spencer selected Dr. Finigan, assistant at Northumberland Asylum. Dr. Finigan is an Irishman and a Roman Catholic, and has very good testimonials. Dr. Jordan, who is consulting physician at Castlebar, was a candidate for that asylum, and was, I believe, locally supported. He acted as locum tenens during the vacancy. Dr. Taylor has been assistant at Dundrum for nearly 10 years, and Dr. Myles at Richmond for about six years. I understand that it is not unusual to appoint outsiders to these posts. Except in cases of transfer, candidates are generally invited by public advertisement, the object being to secure the best man possible.