Dáil Éireann - Volume 32 - 05 December, 1929

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. - Appointments by Agricultural Committees.

Séamus O Riain Séamus O Riain

Séamus O Riain asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what procedure was followed in appointing the present secretaries to the counties Dublin, Donegal, and Cavan Committees of Agriculture, and whether a similar course was followed in the more recent appointments of the secretaries to counties Galway and Tipperary (North Riding) Committees of Agriculture, and if not if he will state the reasons why.

Mr. Fitzgerald (for Minister for Agriculture) Mr. Fitzgerald (for Minister for Agriculture)

Mr. Fitzgerald (for Minister for Agriculture): In the cases of the County Committees of Agriculture for counties Donegal, Dublin, and Cavan, when the post of secretary became vacant the Itinerant Instructor in Agriculture was promoted to the new post of principal instructor and organising secretary.

While, as a general policy, I am in favour of a similar procedure being followed when the post of secretary to a county committee of agriculture becomes vacant, it is not always possible, owing to local circumstances, to insist upon or to agree to a county committee making an appointment to the dual post above-mentioned, and accordingly in the case of counties Galway and Tipperary (North Riding) the post of secretary was continued.

Dr. Ryan Dr. Ryan

Dr. Ryan: Do I understand the Minister to say that the Minister for Agriculture was as a rule in favour of having the itinerant instructor appointed secretary?

Mr. Fitzgerald Mr. Fitzgerald

Mr. Fitzgerald: Yes.

Dr. Ryan Dr. Ryan

Dr. Ryan: Can he say why a similar course was not followed in Galway and North Tipperary?

Mr. Fitzgerald Mr. Fitzgerald

2092

Mr. Fitzgerald: The Minister indicated that when he said: “It is not always possible owing to local circumstances to insist upon or to agree to a county committee making [2092] an appointment to the dual post above mentioned.”

Dr. Ryan Dr. Ryan

Dr. Ryan: Do local circumstances include the fact that an ex-National Army officer applied for the position in North Tipperary?

Mr. Fitzgerald Mr. Fitzgerald

Mr. Fitzgerald: Does the Deputy suggest that he was debarred from the post?

Dr. Ryan Dr. Ryan

Dr. Ryan: No, but I suggest that that was what influenced the Minister in departing from the usual procedure and that was the reason that the ex-Army officer got the position.

Mr. Fitzgerald Mr. Fitzgerald

Mr. Fitzgerald: I understand that the North Tipperary County Committee refused to adopt the suggestion of the Department that the itinerant instructor should be promoted.

Dr. Ryan Dr. Ryan

Dr. Ryan: The Donegal Committee refused for two years to adopt the suggestion of the Minister but in the end they were beaten. He gave in readily in North Tipperary.

Mr. Fitzgerald Mr. Fitzgerald

Mr. Fitzgerald: It took two years in Donegal, so, perhaps, the Deputy should put down a question again in two years' time.

Dr. Ryan Dr. Ryan

Dr. Ryan: The circumstances were reversed in Donegal.

Dáil Éireann 32 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. Appointments by Agricultural Committees.

Questions

19291205