§ MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of inspectors employed by the Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland; how many of these are Irishmen, Englishmen, Scotchmen, and Germans; whether any competitive examinations took place at which Irishmen were allowed to compete for these offices; whether the appointments were the result of examination or recommendation by English and Scotch examining bodies; and whether the Department conducted any examination on its own account.
§ MR. WYNDHAMSeventy-one inspectors. None of these positions are filled by competitive examination. The qualifications are professional or scientific, and appointments are made on the principle of choosing the men best qualified by knowledge and experience, without regard to considerations of nationality. For the reasons explained in my letter of the 29th February, I am unable to give any information on the latter point.
§ MR. FLAVINHow many Irishmen have been done out of appointments?