§ DR. J. E. KENNY (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will he explain on what grounds some of the temporary clerks employed in connection with the taking of the last Census in Ireland and 343 discharged on completion of the work, and who do not possess certificates of proficiency from the Civil Service Commissioners, have since been appointed without examination to the staff of the Congested Districts (Ireland) Board and to other public offices in Ireland, whilst others of the said temporary clerks who do possess certificates from the Civil Service Commissioners have been passed over and have not received appointments; and whether, should the facts bear out this statement, he will see that in future those possessing certificates shall receive a preference over those not possessing them?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Registrar General informs me that all the clerks employed on the work referred to held certificates from the Civil Service Commissioners, with the exception of some boys who were employed in consequence of the inability of the Commissioners to supply certificated boy copyists. There arc nine Census clerks now in the employment of the Congested Districts Board, and all of these hold certificates.
§ DR. KENNYAre not the certificates to which the right hon. Gentleman refers simply those for the qualifying examination of the competitive Civil Service examination?