HC Deb 14 March 1905 vol 142 cc1386-7
MR. HUGH LAW

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether the Department of Agriculture have in any instances sanctioned the appointment by the council of any county of natives of such county as male or female agricultural or technical instructors; and, if so, if he can explain why the Department has refused to sanction such appointments when made by the County Council of Donegal.

MR. ATKINSON

Before the Department found it necessary to make the rule in question in 1903, certain instructors had been appointed in the counties of which they are natives; but there has been no departure from the rule since it was first inserted in the Department's schemes. The rule specially applies to agricultural schemes, and it was only adopted when the need for it had been demonstrated by experience.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S. )

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a fully qualified person from Donegal was rejected simply because she was a native of the county and knew the locality?

MR. HUGH LAW

And is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that a fully qualified person who was thus rejected had her appointment approved on several occasions by the county council?

MR. ATKINSON

If so, it was done under the rule I have mentioned.