asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether, as nine-tenths of the candidates for a vacant dispensary medical officership in the County of Cork are students or graduates of University College, Cork, he would authorise the Medical Faculty of that College to act as a selection board in respect of such appointments.

I regret I am unable to act as suggested by the Deputy. It is evident that candidates holding licences obtained through bodies other than University College, Cork, would consider the proposal invidious. All selection boards so far nominated in connection with the appointment of medical officers have had included in their personnel a representative of the National University, of which University College, Cork, is a constituent college. I am sure the Deputy will agree that these boards should as far as possible be so constituted as to exclude from their findings any suspicion of motives of local prejudice or influence.