MR. MAC NEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the fact that no fewer than twelve temporary uncertificated clerks in the offices of the Irish Land Commission have been made permanent clerks without any examination; why were not the vacancies in the offices of the Irish Land Commission filled from the Lower Division of the Civil Service, and why were not those clerkships thrown open to public competition according to the practice adopted in filling up vacancies in clerkships in the High Court of Justice in Ireland; is there any precedent for this departure from the Civil Service Regulations, and what are the grounds for this breach of the usual practice in the filling up of such appointments; and will he have any objection to lay upon the Table of the 166 House a copy of the correspondence that has taken place on this subject between the Civil Service Commissioners and the Irish Land Commission?
§ MR. JACKSONCertain clerks in the Department of the Land Commission where, on the recent re-organisation of the Department, permanently appointed, they not holding certificates from the Civil Service Commissioners. I have dealt with the inquiries made in reference to this subject in my reply of 4th April. It would be contrary to practice to lay on the Table copies of correspondence between Departments on the subject of Departmental organisations.
MR. MAC NEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these twelve temporary clerks are near relatives, either of the Land Commissioners, or of the Judges, or of other Irish officials?
§ MR. JACKSONNo, Sir, I have no knowledge of the relationship existing between the clerks and the Land Commissioners. I think it would be a very extraordinary proceeding to discharge men who had been doing the work, and who had become efficient in the discharge of it, and to bring in men from outside who had no experience of the duties.