§ Mr. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Dublin, Harbour)asked the Chief Secretary in how many instances within the last five years has the Registrar-General succeeded in his endeavours to take advantage of any opportunity of improving the positions of temporary clerks; is it possible that the pay or prospects of any of the permanent staff could be injured by the promotion of a clerk from a temporary position to a permanent position junior to that of the existing permanent clerks in the office; and, if so, in what way?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Registrar-General has not power to appoint temporary employes to permanent clerkships in his Department, but has at all times endeavoured to assist them to obtain such improved positions as they may be eligible for under other departments, and he has been successful in one instance in doing so within the period named. It would depend upon the conditions under which a temporary clerk was allowed to enter a permanent class as to whether the interests of any members of the latter would thereby be prejudicially affected. There are no vacancies existing at present among the permanent staff of the Department.