§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can explain why the ordinary rule of promotion has been violated in the Local Government Board, Dublin, by promoting Mr. Sidwell over his seniors, Mr. Lee and Mr. Halligan; and whether such irregularity will be prevented in future; and whether compensation will be allotted to the senior officials who have been passed over.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The promotion complained of by the hon. Member occurred not in the Local Government Board but in the Board of 635 Works. Selection for promotion is made by merit, not by seniority. In the present instance, the Board of Works satisfied the Treasury that Mr. Sidwell's qualifications rendered him peculiarly well fitted for the post which he now holds.