§ Mr. JOHN MURPHY (for Mr. Delany)asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that, although the Commissioners of Public Works, Dublin, state that they have no knowledge of the religious belief of their staff, the secretary has been in the habit of asking the clerks at what school they were educated; and, in view of the fact that the Civil Service Commissioners are supposed only to assign to public departments those whom they consider suitable as to age, health, character, and qualifications, will he see that this practice on the part of the secretary is discontinued?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI have no knowledge as to the questions which the Secretary of the Board of Works, Ireland, may ask of clerks in the office. It is certainly the case that no attempt of any sort is made to inquire into the religious belief of the staff, and the religious belief of individuals has no bearing whatever either on 839 the appointments made to the staff or on the subsequent careers of members of the staff. I see no reason to interfere with the present system of inquiries.