23. Mr. NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the principle guiding appointments of women clerks (temporary) in the office of National Education; whether vacancies for such positions are open to competition; whether they are publicly advertised; whether a candidate has to be nominated before being permitted to sit for examination; if so, in whose hands rests the power of nomination; whether, if a candidate has not sufficient influence to secure nomination, she cannot compete for the examination; who prepares the examination papers; who awards judgment on the merits of the examination, and whether the most successful candidates are always appointed; and whether an examination was recently held; if so, how many candidates competed and how many were refused permission to sit for examination on the plea of not having been nominated?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Commissioners appoint temporary women clerks upon satisfactory proof of fitness for the duties to be performed. They receive applications from persons desirous of employment, without nomination. For eleven vacancies which are about to be filled 114 applicants sat for examination upon examination papers prepared by the Board's inspectors. The result has just been ascertained, and the eleven candidates in order of merit as shown by the results of the examination will be appointed on probation for one month and subject to the production of satisfactory evidence as to age and health.
Mr. NUGENTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of those who sent in applications were told that, in consequence of not having secured nominations, they could not be permitted to sit for the examination?
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman issue an order, with regard to the filling up of all these temporary vacancies, that an advertisement should be put in the papers, so as to give everyone a chance?