Captain CRAIGasked whether the Dublin Commissioners under the Irish Universities Act, pursuant to a statute dated 15th May, 1909, set up a lectureship in Spanish and one in Italian at a stipend of £100 each, which were duly advertised in July and August, 1909, the Commissioners stating that the appointments-would be made in the October following; that two eminently distinguished ladies applied for the respective lectureships; that the Commissioners again met on 7th January, 1910, and appointed a Miss Degani to the combined lectureship in Spanish and Italian at a stipend of £300 per annum, although she had been passed over by the governing body for every position for which she had applied; whether the lady in question has any qualifications for the position; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such waste of public money?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Dublin Commissioners at first instituted separate lectureships in Italian and Spanish, with stipends of £100 a year each, and advertised for candidates. After full consideration of the applications received the Commissioners came to the conclusion that it was desirable to substitute for the two separate offices a single lectureship, with a stipend of £300 a year. This they accordingly did by a new statute, and they then appointed to the office the candidate whom they deemed to be the most learned and suitable. There is no ground whatever for the allegation that there has been a waste of public money. Miss Degani is a most competent person.
Captain CRAIGDoes it not constitute a waste of public money that when two qualified persons apparently who were prepared to accept the posts at £100 each that the Commissioners should now institute a position of £300 a year. Is not that a waste of £100 per year?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know what right the hon. and gallant Member has to speak upon the relative learning of these respective candidates. That is for a learned body, and they have decided that, upon the whole, this lady should hold the two appointments.
Captain CRAIGIs it not a fact that the two ladies who originally applied are fully qualified to teach Spanish and Italian respectively, and were prepared to do so at £100 a year each, and that the Commissioners have now combined the two positions in one at a salary of £300 in order to appoint a lady who had influence at Dublin Castle?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am as incompetent as the hon. and gallant Gentleman to say who is competent for teaching Spanish and Italian. That was referred to a body of experts.
Captain CRAIGI beg to give notice, when the Statute is laid upon the Table, I shall move an address to the Crown against it.
§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Commissioners referred the question of the filling of those posts to the governing bodies of the college, as they did in other cases?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot say; I do not know.