HC Deb 20 July 1896 vol 43 cc130-1
MR. T. M. HEALY

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether advertisements or other notifications of vacancies in the staff of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, are made so as to afford Irish candidates an opportunity of making application; is he aware that one of his predecessors admitted, in answer to a question by Mr. Sexton, in July 1890, that out of nine appointments to professorships in this institution made during the preceding 18 years one only had been given to an Irishman, and if since that date (July, 1890), two professorships then held by Irishmen became vacant and have been filled by Englishmen; is he also aware that some of the Englishmen appointed professors have subsequently obtained additional appointments in public service and elsewhere: and, will he take steps to prevent any more of those dual appointments being made or new offices created in his Department?

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST,) Cambridge University

Notices of vacancies in the staff of the College are generally given in Nature, which is the leading scientific journal, but it is not found necessary to issue advertisements. I am not aware that any such statement as that during 18 years only one appointment was given to an Irishman was made. I am informed that one of the two professors appointed since 1890 happens to be an Irishman, but nationality is never taken into account by the Committee of Council—[Nationalist cheers]—in making scientific appointments. The time during which professors are not engaged at the college is at their own disposal. I have heard of two who have undertaken to assist the staff of the Dublin Museum in arranging scientific collections. Otherwise I do nor know how their leisure is employed. No appointments or officers are created by the Committee of Council for the benefit of particular persons.

MR. T. M. HEALY

We never receive this paper called Nature. Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to arrange that some advertisements on the subject shall be put in some Irish paper, say a Tory paper?

[No answer was given.]