§ MR. CREAN (Cork, S.E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the appointment of permanent officials to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, Ireland, is by public competition; and, if not, what process of selection is adopted; and whether he will consider the advisability of having all future appointments under this Department open to public competition, so that the best talent may be secured in the interest of the country.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce). The appointment of permanent officials to the Department is governed by the regulations which apply to the Civil Service generally. All such officials must obtain certificates of qualification from the Civil Service Commissioners as the result of examination by open or limited competition, as the case may be; (1) In the cases coming under Clause 7 of the Order in Council of 4th June 1870, in which the Civil Service Commissioners may dispense with examination wholly or partly on being satisfied that the person possesses the requisite knowledge and ability for the particular post to which it is proposed to appoint him; and (2) Those special cases coming within the provisions of Section 4 of The Superannuation Act, 1859, which enables the Treasury to appoint by warrant officers with professional or other qualifications not ordinarily to be acquired in the public service. I am not aware that a necessity exists in this Department for modifying the general rules.