asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction amongst civil servants in all Government Departments at the continuance of the system whereby civil servants recruited into the clerical grade are substantially confined in their prospects of promotion to that particular grade, and if he will consider the substitution therefor of a system of one-grade recruitment whereunder promotion to higher grades will be made on merit and capacity alone.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In regard to the second part, proposals of the type referred to by the Deputy are appropriate to be dealt with through the machinery for conciliation in the Civil Service set up by the Government.

Am I to take it from the Minister's reply that consideration will be given by the conciliation board to such proposals?

I do not know. The initiative lies with the Civil Service Grade.

Does the Minister seriously suggest that no dissatisfaction has been expressed by officers in the clerical grade as to their limitations?

There may be dissatisfaction. One can say that about nearly everything in life. It is what spreads the dissatisfaction that matters.