§ MR. DELANYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, since it has been alleged that the Catholic clerks in the veterinary branch of the Agricultural Department are in no way prejudiced on account of their religion, he will state what is the disability which keeps these gentlemen, after eleven years service, at a practically stationary salary of £95 a year, while men of less experience were brought into the department to do the same class of work at £150 per annum, and were almost immediately promoted to staff clerkships worth considerably more; and whether, in making these latter appointments, the Catholic clerks were considered unfit to fill them; and, if so, why.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe Department selected for the staff posts referred to clerks who, in their opinion, possessed the qualifications which rendered them most suitable for the discharge of the duties attached to these positions.
§ MR. DELANYFrom whom did the right hon. Gentleman get this information?
§ MR. WALTER LONGFrom the heads of the Department, and I can assure the hon. Member promotions are made according to the requirements of the public service.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLDid the information come from Sir Horace Plunkett?
§ [No Answer was returned.]