§ MR. HALPINI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury how many police pensioners are at present employed as watchers in the Customs Department in Ireland, with pensions varying from £48 to £72 per annum; and whether he will consider the advisability of the employment of civilians of irreproachable character and fair intelligence in the positions now occupied by Royal Irish Constabulary pensioners.
§ MR. MCKENNAOut of sixty places of watchers at the various ports in Ireland, fifteen are filled by police pensioners with pensions varying from £48 to £72 per annum. In the appointment of watchers preference is given to pensioners from the Army, Navy, or police, because (a) a pension is regarded as a guarantee for good conduct and the correct discharge of duty, (b) the post of watcher is not itself pensionable. Non-pensioners are only appointed when suitable pensioners are not available.