§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, can he Say why Mr. J. T. Drennan, on being appointed as a temporary clerk in the office of the Treasury Remembrancer, Dublin, was given a salary of £3 per week, which is double the salary usually given to temporary clerks employed in Irish Government offices; under what circumstances was he subsequently appointed to two positions (the chief clerkships, respectively, of theRegistry of Titles and Estates Commissioners' offices), which posts had no previous existence and which appear to have been created specially for his advantage; whether he is aware that a number of the temporary clerks, appointed prior to Mr. Drennan's first appointment, are still serving in Dublin offices at £80 a year, while Mr. Drennan draws about seven times that amount; whether Sir Robert Holmes has shown any practical solicitude for the amelioration of the conditions under which these other temporary clerks serve; and will he investigate a state of affairs which makes it possible to reject proposals for small increases to other clerks in Dublin Government offices whilst the personal subordinates of the Treasury Remembrancer receive promotions of the character indicated.
§ MR. RUNCIMANI will answer the first part of the Question. Mr. Drennan was appointed in 1892 at a salary of 30s. a week, which was raised in December, 1894, to £2 a week, and from 1st January, 1899, to £3 a week. His appointment to the post of staff officer in the Registry of Titles was offered him by the Registrar, approved by the Lord Chancellor and the assigned judge of the High Court and sanctioned by the Treasury. The appointment was made whollyupon grounds of merit, which have been amply confirmed. As regards the remaining portion of this Question I, must refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 23rd instant.‡