asked the Minister for Finance the qualifications required for the post of secretary general to the National Science Council which was filled recently; what were the qualifications of the person appointed to the post; and why an Englishman was appointed while Irishmen were applicants.

The statutory regulations made for the competition for this post, by the Civil Service Commissioners, required that candidates have high attainment in a scientific discipline, research or development experience and administrative ability and possess, otherwise, the requisite knowledge and ability, and be suitable, to enter on the discharge of the duties of the position.

The person appointed fulfilled these requirements. His academic qualifications include a B.Sc. (1st Class Honours) and a Ph.D. He has been in the British Government Scientific Service since 1954 and has had considerable research experience as well as experience of production and of liaison with industry and universities.

The appointee was selected by the Civil Service Commissioners as being the candidate found best qualified in the competition.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if one of the qualifications required was a knowledge of the Irish language?

I do not know what requirements the Civil Service Appointments Commissioners laid down.

In view of the fact that it was considered necessary to bring one candidate from America and pay his fare home, and that even though he had qualifications as high if not higher than the man appointed he was not appointed, does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that this seems rather extraordinary? The gentleman appointed had most of his experience in dealing with an atomic station in England and I do not think we have an atomic station here yet.

We have an equally destructive force.

Deputy Tully's remarks would seem to suggest that the Civil Service Appointments Commissioners in dealing with this appointment did not carry out their job in a proper way. If he really believes this, it is a very serious matter. I am sure he knows the methods to which he should resort in order to correct that situation if it occurs.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary seriously suggest that a Deputy in Opposition is the proper person to carry out the inquiries necessary if it is considered that the Civil Service Appointments Commissioners in appointing this person were not doing their job properly? I am not suggesting it; I am stating it. The qualifications of the man who was not appointed proved that things were not quite right in the appointment.

I do not know what Deputy Tully is trying to get at, but it appears to me that he is questioning the rectitude of the Civil Service Appointments Commissioners and the people who served upon the interview board. If he really believes this, he should take the matter further. I should like to say that the Civil Service Appointments Commissioners have always been accepted by all Parties as being the best possible means of making appointments of this kind.

Why did they not discover it before they went to the trouble of bringing someone from America for interview?

Question No. 11.

If Deputy Tully has something which he thinks should be examined he should produce it here. This Opposition tactic of making veiled suggestions of a vague kind is unworthy of any Deputy of this House. If there is something to be examined or if there is something suspect, come out with it and tell us precisely what it is.

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary is not suggesting that he stood up to answer this question without having the full information?

Question No. 11.

If the Parliamentary Secretary gets a question and gets ample time to answer it, surely he knows the full facts before he stands up to reply? There is nothing veiled about the suggestion I made. I put it down in black and white.

I have answered the question fully and I have invited Deputy Tully to say, if there is something wrong with it, what precisely it is.

I have already said that under two headings. I said it was wrong because the most qualified person was not appointed.

We cannot have this question all day. There are 171 questions on the Order Paper.

I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle.