MR. T. L. COEBETT (Down, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Department of Agriculture has been called to the appointment, by the Diseases of Animals Committee of the Donegal County Council, of an inspector for the compulsory dipping of sheep in the rural district of Glenties; will he say how many suitable men, with, long experience of sheep-dipping, applied for the position; has the person appointed any knowledge of sheep-dipping; what was his former occupation; whether he is aware that his brother is a county councillor and a member of the Diseases of Animals Committee which made the appointment; and will he say what action does the Department intend to take in this matter.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Department of Agriculture have approved of the temporary appointment by the local authority under the Diseases of Animals Acts for county Donegal of inspectors of sheep-dipping for the various rural districts in the county, Glenties included. In the case of Glenties district the information before the Department does not show that there was more than one candidate for the appointment. The Department have not felt called upon to inquire into the qualifications or connections of any of the persons appointed. They do not propose to interfere with the discretion of the Donegal local authority in regard to appointments of this kind.