MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, will he explain why a sergeant in the Dublin Metropolitan Police was promoted over the heads of fourteen other men, he having taken only fifteenth place at a competitive examination held in September, 1893, and never having done a month's practical police duty on the streets; was an undertaking then given to those who were passed over that this sergeant would not be allowed to qualify or compete for further promotion until each of them was first promoted to the rank of station sergeant; and has this sergeant nevertheless been allowed to compete for the rank of station sergeant in July last, and is he now about to be further promoted?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe particular member of the force to whom reference is made was advanced to the grade of sergeant by the Chief Commissioner of Police after having performed his duties in a highly satisfactory manner for a number of years. He had performed six months' duty on the streets. The examination referred to in the first paragraph was for the position of assistant clerk, and success in that examination gives no claim to promotion. No undertaking was given of the 492 nature indicated in the second paragraph. It was open to any well-conducted sergeant with three years' service in the rank, to enter for the competitive examination in July last, and the sergeant mentioned in the Question, who availed himself of this privilege, took first place at the examination. In due course he will be promoted to the grade of station sergeant, but he must first discharge the duties of sergeant on the streets for a period of six months.