asked the Minister for the Public Service if his Department has advertised the holding of a competition for clerical assistants, confined to women; and, if so, why.

96.

asked the Minister for the Public Service if his Department has advertised the holding of a competition for clerical officers, confined to men; and, if so, why.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together. The Department of the Public Service recently announced competitions to give an opportunity of establishment to staff who had been recruited in a temporary capacity for duties appropriate to the grades of clerical assistant and clerical officer. The temporary staff on clerical assistant duties were women and those on clerical officer duties were men. This determined the field of eligibility for the competitions.

As regards the general question of opening hitherto restricted grades to both sexes, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question on this subject on 9th May, 1974.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary not think this is contrary to the Anti-Discrimination Bill now before the Seanad?

No. There are two different grades involved; the clerical assistants are women and their duties are regarded as feminine work while all the clerical officers are men. The appointments were only temporary.

In view of the legislation in connection with anti-discrimination which we passed recently in the Dáil, the action of the Department may be contested and found repugnant. The Department are discriminating, even if it is for a good purpose.

That is not so. I have pointed out to the Deputy that there are two different grades involved. The people who answered the advertisement and did the examination were already temporary but now they have been made permanent. The action of the Department does not discriminate against women.

It does.

I am calling Question No. 97.