asked the Minister for Finance whether the Office of Public Works has dismissed recently members of the Old I.R.A., who have service certificates and medals, and retained others who have no such certificates or national service records and, if so, if he will make a statement in the matter.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of Old I.R.A. men with service certificates or medals employed by the Office of Public Works in (a) a permanent capacity and (b) a temporary capacity.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to answer Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.

Workers employed on work for the Commissioners of Public Works are normally recruited through the employment exchanges where it is the practice to give a preference to applicants who rendered military service to the State. The commissioners have, however, no record of such military service in individual cases.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary say that it is not the practice of his Department to give priority of employment to men holding service medals and certificates?

They are asked to give priority to such people.