§ 40. Mr. O'MALLEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is satisfied that the present old age pensions officer in Spiddal, Connemara, can discharge his duties to the public satisfactorily, seeing that practically every old age pensioner in his district is completely ignorant of the English language; whether the Board of Customs and Excise has at any time invited or received applications from Irish-speaking officials in England and Scotland for transfer to Irish-speaking districts such as Spiddal; whether he is aware that the Welsh public recently successfully insisted on the withdrawal of the appointment of a certain gentleman to the position of Welsh insurance secretary on account of his ignorance of the Welsh language; and whether the Irish-speaking public will receive the same consideration?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo applications have been received for transfer to Spiddal, and I am not aware that any difficulties have arisen with regard to the performance of his duties by the existing officer. The Board of Customs and Excise do already, in selecting pension officers for Irish-speaking districts give a preference as far as possible to Irish-speaking officers.