§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Skibbereen, county Cork, Board of Guardians, on 19th January, 1910, unanimously elected as medical officer of the Skibbereen dispensary district Dr. Michael Burke; whether he is fully qualified for the position; and whether, seeing that the Skibbereen Board of Guardians have twice since the election unanimously requested the Local Government Board for Ireland to sanction the appointment, he will say for what reasons the Local Government Board have refused their sanction?
§ Mr. BIRRELLDr. Burke is at present medical officer of Union Hall Dispensary, and has been elected to the vacant medical officership of Skibbereen Dispensary. The Board have not sanctioned his transfer as legal proceedings are being taken with respect to the medical officership of the Skibbereen Workhouse, to which Dr. Burke also claims to have been appointed. The Board are awaiting the result of these proceedings, as they do not consider that one medical officer should hold both the dispensary and the workhouse hospitals.