§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the following report is correct: —
The following promotions have been made in the Office of the Local Government Board:—Thomas Aiskew Mooney, M.A., LL.D. (University of Dublin), to be Secretary; D. J. Macshearan, B.A. (University of Dublin), to be Assistant Secretary; Robert J. Newel, Barrister-at-Law, to be Clerk of the First Class; and G. A. Mason, B.A., L.L.D. (University of Dublin), to be Private Secretary to the Vice-President of the Board;and, whether the Government purpose giving preference and promotion in the 494 Irish Office of the Local Government Board chiefly to Protestants and graduates of the University of Dublin?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The promotions in the Office of the Local Government Board are determined solely on the consideration of the fitness of the persons promoted for the post they are selected to fill, and the question of creed or their place of education have no bearing whatever on the appointments.