§ Mr. HAZLETONasked the Chief Secretary whether Sergeant Thomas Jenkins, Royal Irish Constabulary, station Greenore, holds the position of port inspector at Greenore under the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction; if so, whether this is in accordance with the rules of the force; and whether he receives police pay while absent in England on work connected with the office of port inspector?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSergeant Jenkins, who is stationed at Greenore, acts as ship inspector there under the Department. Other members of the force perform similar duties elsewhere, and there is nothing in the constabulary regulations to prevent their doing so. Since he took 1515 up this duty the sergeant has only once been in England, when he went over for a few days as a witness in a prosecution under the Diseases of Animals Acts. He received constabulary pay during his absence.
§ Mr. HAZLETONI would like to ask the Chief Secretary if he holds that policemen in Ireland should be free to travel into other countries on work wholly unconnected with their police duties, and at the same time be paid as policemen for work which they have neglected to do?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI can only say that as at present advised I see no harm in the matter.
§ Mr. HAZLETONDoes the Chief Secretary to the Irish Government propose to continue to allow policemen to hold other positions while they are being paid to devote their whole time to the work?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt all depends what the positions are. If it is found that these duties can be easily performed by persons of police training and habit, I do not see why they should be interfered with, and unless such office is incompatible with their duties as policemen.
§ Mr. HAZLETONIs it not the fact that the regulations lay down that policemen should devote their whole time to the duties of their office as policemen, and is not this a paid position under the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir, there is nothing whatever in this position inconsistent with the position of a constabulary officer under the rules.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEWill the right hon. Gentleman see that no county council in Ireland is subjected to a charge for extra police so long as the members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are in England?
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes, I will see.