Finding aid databases

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, eighty-sixth day's proceedings, 3 August 1934. Eight people were present including Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from three non-pensionable officers. The Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants with particular reference to pensions. The Commission also heard evidence from representatives of the Irish Government Worker's Union (Minor Grades). The representatives described the work undertaken by girls in the Ordnance Survey Office. 'Of course girls are employed and I want to make this quite clear. All they do outside is to feed the machines or lay on the paper, and I think their wages are much smaller'.

s 6247/Fo/86

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, eighty-seventh day's proceedings, 11 October 1934. Twelve people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from Dr AW Conway, Registrar, University College, Dublin. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of graduates in the civil service.

s 6247/Fo/87

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, eighty-eighth day's proceedings, 12 October 1934. Eight people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from Mr PS O'Hegarty, Secretary, Department of Post and Telegraphs. The Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants with particular reference to postal workers. Mrs Kettle questioned the Secretary on the conditions for women workers. 'Is there evidence that even if women were suitable they would not compete for higher positions in the Post Office - is it not a fact that if you had a woman in the Post Office who was a genius at accountancy, she would not be appointed?'

s 6247/Fo/88

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, eighty-ninth day's proceedings, 25 October 1934. Twelve people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from Mr PS O'Hegarty, Secretary, Department of Posts and Telegraphs. The Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants with particular reference to postal workers. The Chairman referred to evidence from a Committee of Women Civil Servants 'in which they suggested that the practice of segregation in the Post Office was hindering the promotion prospects of women officers'. Mr O'Hegarty response was as follows, 'The only observation I can make on it is this, that the Post Office has 70 years experience of the employment of women, it has probably a greater experience of the employment of women than any other Government Department, and our experience is that as a unit the woman Civil Servant is not as good as the man ... segregation in the past has the advantage of enabling women to be promoted to posts which they could not have been promoted to if they had to compete with male officers of a similar grade'. Mrs Kettle spoke at length on the poor conditions under which the writing assistants and women civil servants in general were working.

s 6247/Fo/89

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, ninetieth day's proceedings, 26 October 1934. Seven people were present including Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from representatives from the Engineers' Association. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants.

s 6247/Fo/90

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, ninety-first day's proceedings, 8 November 1934. Ten people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from Mr JD Twomey, Secretary, Department of Agriculture. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants. In reference to the wages received by typists and writing assistants, Mr Twomey states, 'Certainly where girls come from the provinces and have to provide themselves with decent lodgings here, I do not think the rate of pay is adequate to enable them to do that'.

s 6247/Fo/91

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, ninety-second day's proceedings, 9 November 1934. Eight people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from Mr PS O'Hegarty, Secretary, Department of Posts and Telegraphs. The Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants with particular reference to postal workers. Mr O'Hegarty refuted allegations made by women workers in the Department as to their poor pay and conditions. 'My point on that is simply this - that the duties are not overloaded. A strict watch is kept to see that they do not get overloaded. Any complaint made or case put up will be investigated ... As far as we are aware, the general charges made about harassing are without foundation in fact'. Mrs Kettle defends the postal workers and points to the stance taken by other Departments. 'The attitude of other heads of Departments disagrees completely with the attitude of the Post Office. We had a Secretary of a Department here yesterday who said that the pay of Writing Assistants and Copying Typists was totally inadequate'.

s 6247/Fo/92

report

Letter from Department of Justice to the Secretary, the Executive Council, 18 August 1932, regarding the shooting of Messers Ryan and Gilmore at Kilrush, County Clare. The letter includes copies of their statements received from Madam McBride.

s 6292A

letter

Newsclipping from the 'Saturday Herald', 28 May 1932, containing an article and editorial on
proposed reductions in the pay of Civil Servants. The case of teachers is outlined on page 3, 'The arrangement if carried into effect would mean that the Government would take over the existing Teachers Pension Fund including the pensions of JAMs [Junior Assistant Mistresses] and lay teachers in convent and monastery schools'.

s 6294

newsclipping

teachers

Memorandum from the Department of Justice to the Executive Council, 6 June 1932, relating to a proposed inquiry into alleged assaults by police officers and prison officers. The memorandum refers to documents submitted by Miss O'Mullane on behalf of the People's Rights Association. These documents outline complaints which 'vary from a perfectly general plea for prison reform in a humanitarian direction to specific complaints of assaults by police officers'. The documents are summarised and commented on by SA Roche, Department of Justice, 'I believe the complaints against the Dublin Bridewell to be largely exaggerated'.

s 6296

memorandum