asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state whether the three officers recently promoted from overseer to assistant-superintendent grade in the Dublin Postal District were the No. 1 nominees of the Controller, Dublin Postal District; and, if they were not, whether he will state the considerations which caused him to make the appointments, contrary to the recommendations of the controller.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the considerations which decided him to promote an officer on extension, aged 62½ years, from the grade of assistant superintendant to that of superintendant, and again, six months later, to that of assistant controller.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he will state the considerations which decided him to promote an officer of the assistant-superintendent grade to be superintendent of the Dublin Parcel Office in March, 1949; and whether the officer concerned had any experience in the parcel office which entitled him to be promoted over the heads of officers of that branch who had long experience of the work.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 34, 35 and 36 together. The promotion of officers to the posts referred to was made by me as the responsible Minister, and the officers appointed were not only fully qualified but the best qualified officers available.

Does the Minister think that that reply will allay the intense dissatisfaction which exists in his Department at the moment over these appointments? Is the Minister further aware that what is freely said by the officials of his Department is that the criterion now is political affiliation and not ability?

When did that start?

While it is not the official practice to furnish the information which the Deputy requires, and such information has not been previously supplied, I desire to inform the Deputy, without creating any precedent thereby, that each of the officers was duly recommended by the Department, and I accepted their recommendation.

There is not much political affiliation about that.

I do not know the gentlemen concerned.