§ MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that the system called the "P Examination is causing much discontent in the ranks of the Royal Irish Constabulary through practically abolishing promotion by seniority, and lifting constables of a few years' service over the heads of old and experienced officers; whether experience shows that the" P. Examination is detrimental to the efficiency of the constabulary, since young constables, studying for it, neglect to perfect themselves in a thorough knowledge of police duties; and, if this be so, will he devise some means by which a remedy may be applied to this grievance?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am not aware that the system of examination referred to is causing discontent, as suggested in the first paragraph. It is not correct to say that promotion by seniority is practically abolished. Out of 186 promotions made in the past year as many as 156 were made from amongst deserving senior men. The reply to the second paragraph is in the negative: the result of experience shows that men who have been successful at the examinations in question generally make excellent sergeants. It is not proposed to alter the present system.