HC Deb 21 April 1904 vol 133 cc851-2
MR. SLOAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can explain under what circumstances the committee of the Ballinasloe District Lunatic Asylum has appointed the junior medical assistant to be resident medical superintendent and refused the appointment to the acting medical superintendent: if he can say what were the superior qualifications of the junior medical assistant that the acting medical superintendent did not possess; and will he take steps that the appointment be not sanctioned until the merits of each case have been duly considered.

MR. WYNDHAM

The appointment of resident medical superintendent of the asylum is vested by law in the asylum committee, but subject to the concurrence of the Lord-Lieutenant. The papers connected with the appointment in the present case are now before the Lord-Lieutenant.

MR. SLOAN

May I ask whether, in view of the fact that this gentleman had been acting as superintendent of this asylum and was fully qualified, he will consider the advisability of making some representations in his favour to the asylum authorities so that he may not be refused the appointment because he acted injudiciously in the case mentioned in dismissing the attendant.

MR. WYNDHAM

The power of appointment is vested in the asylum committee, not in the Government. There is a certain power in the Government to veto the appointment, but only in connection with matters of qualification.

MR. SLOAN

Will this case be considered by the Lord-Lieutenant?

MR. WYNDHAM

Yes, on the grounds that I have indicated.