§ MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury how many temporary clerks in Irish Government Departments have been appointed to the class of abstractors or assistant clerks since November, 1902, whose salaries as temporary clerks on such appointment were reduced by 10 per cent, for pension purposes, and how many whose salaries were not similarly reduced; and if he can see his way, since the number of the former is comparatively insignificant, to direct that the deductions be refunded and the present salaries of these officers increased by the amount deducted for the purposes aforesaid.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) Seven clerks have been promoted in the period and the departments specified by the hon. Member, and of this three were subjected to the 10 per cent, deduction. Each case was considered on its merits, It has been decided that promotions of this kind are only to be made in very exceptional circumstances, and the 10 per cent, deduction rule is now always applied. The fact that the deduction 1194 was not enforced in all cases in the past cannot be admitted as an argument for improving the position of others who have received normal treatment.