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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Apr 1923

Vol. 3 No. 7

ADJOURNMENT OF THE DAIL. - GOVERNMENT AND THE RAILWAYS.

I move the adjournment until Wednesday at 3 o'clock.

There is a matter to be raised on the adjournment by Deputy Davin.

I have refrained for some time past from taking up the time of this Dáil regarding matters which I will briefly refer to here now. I was aware that negotiations on the matter to which I briefly refer were going on between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the company or companies concerned. In bringing this question to the notice of the Government I want it to be clearly understood by everyone that I fully realise the difficulties that have been created for the Irish Railway Companies, and particularly the companies that operate within the Free State, by the troubles which arose and have been going on since last June. I have no desire to introduce into this discussion any aspect of the case dealing with the people who are responsible for this destruction of railways, and who, consequently, are the cause of the loss of a good deal of trade and revenue in the Free State area, and, what is far more serious to me, the cause of a lot of misery and starvation to thousands of railway workers.

took the Chair at this stage.

I have been in communication with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce arising out of complaints that have been sent to me concerning particularly the failure of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company and some other railway companies, to open up sections of the lines that have been closed down since last July. The sections that were closed down last July, and which still remain closed, are as follow:—Dungarvan to Castletownroche, Fermoy to Mitchelstown, Rathmore to Headford Junction, Headford Junction to Kenmare, Caragh to Valentia Harbour, Bagenalstown to Palace East, Kiltimagh to Collooney, Campile to Killinick and Rosslare, Cobh Goods Station, Killaloe Station; also Lisduff Quarry Works and the Sligo and Claremorris section of the Great Southern and Western Railway. I have had some correspondence with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce regarding the failure of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company to respond to the repeated applications of traders in the areas, and also their failure to respond to representations from the Ministry to open up the Borris and Bagenalstown branch, and this is the reply which I received on the 13th April:—

"I am directed by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to refer to the question of the service provided on the Borris and Bagenalstown branch of the Great Southern and Western Railway to which you referred on April 9th, and to say that the company is disinclined to extend the present service for the time being on the ground that it is necessarily worked at a loss."

I cannot understand the mentality of the directors of that company in judging the loss or profit of the company as a whole by any loss that may be involved or incurred on the working of a section. On a recent occasion I spoke to Mr. Neale, and put it to him that it was not fair to keep this section closed down because it was anticipated, but could not be proved, that a loss would be incurred if he agreed to the opening up of the line. He said it was not looked at from that standpoint. That is why I have read this reply that I received from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

I have also been in communication with the Ministry regarding the closing down of the Lisduff Quarries, whereby two hundred railway men have been unemployed since last June. In the first instance, the company stated, and rightly stated, that the quarries could not be kept going, because of the lack of protection to carry on the work. That was a position which could not be disputed. Suggestions were made that the military authorities in Templemore could provide protection for the carrying of the explosives and the supervision of the discharge of the explosives in Lisduff, and it was asked would the company then open up. The Minister (Mr. McGrath) made representations, I understand, to Portobello, and the military authorities agreed to carry out the suggestion. The company then came along and took up the attitude that is detailed in this letter which I received on the 12th April:—

"I am directed by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to refer to your visit to this Department on the 9th inst., in connection with the possible re-opening of Lisduff Quarries by the Great Southern and Western Railway Co., and to say that this Department has been in communication with the company on the matter.

"The company states that the quarry can only be worked in an economical manner when the line is being relaid in the normal way. This the company, owing to its financial condition, states that it is not at present doing, and it, therefore, does not require the quarry, and does not contemplate its re-opening."

As far as I can understand, the financial aspect of the company's position at the moment is considered simply as to how it can maintain the present value of its Stocks in the market and can possibly increase them in view of any contemplated re-organisation of the railways that may take place arising out of the suggestions that have been put before them by the Government. I suggest that that is not a reason that should guide the company in considering a question of this kind, especially in the opening up of a quarry where 300 tons of stone were put out daily in pre-June days, and from which 200 men have been pushed out of employment, and are being kept out. Some time ago the men in this particular area who were suffering from extreme hardships—and most of whom are not in receipt of any unemployment pay— offered to protect the quarry themselves if they were supplied with 20 rifles. That suggestion was conveyed to, but naturally ignored, by the military authorities.

Now, the company that takes up that attitude and that states everything is being done to open up the trade and commerce of the country, especially now when we are coming to normal conditions, has voted away on several occasions bonuses ranging from fifty to two hundred guineas to some of the higher officials who have had to do increased work as a result of the political troubles. I will give you one or two cases in point. On the 3rd January last the stationmaster at Belmont had to leave owing to the threats of armed men on the grounds that he was a Free State agent and made undue efforts to save the property of the company when the station, cabin, and offices were set on fire. The company were asked to follow the example of other Irish railway companies, and to allow him his pay until such time as another position was found for him. This request was definitely refused, although the company were communicated with by the Minister for Industry and Commerce. The refusal was justified on the grounds of the financial position of the company. Just at this time substantial bonuses of from fifty to two hundred guineas were paid to some of the chief officials on the grounds of increased duties. The company demonstrated their feelings towards the man whose family was homeless and penniless by waiting six weeks before giving him another position, although all that was necessary was a slight readjustment of positions. I have personal knowledge of a particular case, and I have also official knowledge of similar cases that occurred during the period of the Anglo-Irish war, where stationmasters were pushed out by the I.R.A. after being suspected of assisting the British Government. The G. S. & W. Railway Company, without any representations, found them suitable positions at once, or at least made quite certain that they did not suffer any financial loss as a result of their alleged unauthorised removal. I merely quote you those cases to show that the reasons put forward by the railway companies are not the genuine reasons for keeping those various sections of the line closed down, the trade and industry of the Free State area held up and paralysed, and thousands of men kept out of employment. I am quite fair, I believe, to some of the higher officials of this company when I say they suffered very much in mind from the assistance given by their employees to the men who were carrying on the Anglo-Irish war, and that they are now taking the opportunity to hit them back for what they did not consider they had a right to at that time. I also believe that the heads of this company are influenced by the consideration that by their conditions they will bring the men to the point and the time when they think they will be starved out, that they will call them back again to work at their own beck and call, and then presumably make a wages attack at a time when they think it would be suitable to do so. I have no doubt, speaking as I can for the men working for that company, that they will get a rude awakening if that is what is at the back of their minds.

A statement was made here on the 3rd of January last by the Minister for Industry and Commerce, while dealing with the railway position generally and the future policy of the Government regarding railway organisation. He said: "The Government has come to the conclusion that it is necessary to maintain such railway services as are essential to the economic life of the community." I suggest, and seriously suggest, that all the sections that have been closed down for six or nine months are essential to the economic life of the country, and it is essential that, after the troubled period through which we have passed, they should be re-opened to try to recover the trade lost through the destruction of these particular lines. There seems to be no reason why they should not, as the necessary protection will be given in every instance where it is required. I understand the military authorities have been, and are still, willing to afford whatever protection is necessary to see that the railways of the country are carried on in a proper manner. I had intended raising many other aspects of the railway question under the terms of the leave which I received this afternoon, but I do not propose to go into these now. I think, however, that seeing that there is no particular buiness to be put before the Dáil, which is now being adjourned for another week, that the time has arrived when the Dáil might take into consideration the whole question of the future organisation of the railways. The three months have passed, and another month has been allowed in addition to the railway companies to try and agree upon a scheme of grouping, or unification, or some scheme that they might agree upon themselves, which may not necessarily be accepted by the Government. I suggest that the time has arrived, if the Government is anxious to utilise the services of Deputies who are willing to come here for one day, when they might, at a very early date, give full and ample time for the consideration of this very serious and important question. I am personally in possession of information which I will disclose at a later date to show that many railway magnates in this country have their hands actually around the necks of the Free State to try to grapple with and take away its trade and traffic and to divert it to Belfast out of its natural course. I think we cannot deal in a discussion with very serious matters such as that, and I seriously suggest to the Ministry that they should give an early date and a suitable opportunity to go into that, and to every other aspect of railway administration that has a bearing upon the trade and commerce of the country. I would have liked to go into other aspects of this case had I been in possession of the agreement that has been arrived at between the Executive Council and the railway companies regarding the question of compensation. I think that if any money is to be paid away out of State funds to railway companies, such as the Great Southern and Western Railway Co., it should be on the condition that the lines that they have allowed to remain idle and closed for six or nine months should be re-opened in the interests of the State. I think that there is nothing unreasonable in laying down a condition of that kind, and I put it to the Government that they should use all the influence that they possibly can to have all these sections re-opened to recover the trade that has been lost, and that the thousands of men who have been starving for the last six or nine months should be given an opportunity of earning a livelihood in a State that we believe and think is a Free State.

In supporting Deputy Davin, I do not think that these railways should be allowed to remain idle. I think the Minister for Industry and Commerce should do what he can to get the companies to restart work in repairing these lines. I would like to point out that the workers have their rights no less than the railway companies and just as much as the directors and shareholders, and we are not going to see these rights filched from us. I sent a question to the Minister for Industry and Commerce about some railway men in my area who have been dismissed, men who had 7 to 10 years' service on the permanent way. These men will be thrown out of employment and their dependents will naturally come on the County Board of Health. I do not think that is fair, because at present they could be reconstructing the lines. There is nothing to prevent that being done, I dare say, down as far as Lisduff. The Great Southern and Western Co. have been at no time, in my opinion, very favourable to the establishment of the Free State. I have heard on good authority that a number of notices are about to be sent out, and possibly have been sent out already, and I would ask the Minister to see that those notices are withdrawn. Surely the workers that live down along where those lines run have their rights as well as the railway company. This is a time of the year that no more men ought to be thrown out of employment.

I would like to take advantage of the opportunity secured by Deputy Davin to call the special attention of the Ministry to the southern portion of Co. Wexford, that is the portion on the Great Southern line between Wexford town and Waterford, which has been closed down, as he pointed out, practically since July. Anybody who read the evidence submitted to the Agricultural Commission yesterday will see that the dead meat industry which was being fostered in Wexford is in a bad way, and the immediate cause of that, to my mind, is that the Great Southern and Western Railway Co. have neglected their interests and the interests of the community in Southern Wexford by allowing the railway line damaged last July to remain unrepaired all that time. Since that line was damaged in July the Great Southern and Western Railway Co. have withdrawn the boats which plied between Fishguard and Rosslare, and the result is that the very large trade that the Wexford Meat Supply Co. was doing up to that time has been stopped completely. These people have had no outlet for their dead meat trade since last July, and the result is the they are working now with about half the staff. This also affects the farmers. I notice that the Farmers' benches are now empty, and, to my mind, this is a most important matter for the farmers, and more important for them than for any other section of the community. I think they ought to be here taking part in this discussion, especially in view of the evidence that was submitted at the Commission yesterday. I would ask the Minister to draw the attention of the Great Southern and Western Co. to the situation existing in Wexford, by which this industry, one of the most important in Ireland, is suffering, and suffering badly, as a result of their laxity.

I will reply first to Deputy Corish. With regard to the policy of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce it is our aim and desire to have every perch of railway line within the Saorstát opened up at the earliest possible date, and it has been our endeavour for months past to try and have the lines opened up. Quite recently when approaching certain railway companies we were met with the reply, "If you give us protection we shall open up the line." In one case the reply was: "You give us money, and we will build the bridges." On the 21st of April the Ministry received from the Minister for Defence this communication:—

"I am directed by the Minister for Defence to refer to your letter of the 14th inst., on the subject of military protection needed in order that damaged railway lines might be repaired and traffic resumed. I am to inform you that the Army is in a position to provide adequate protection as and when required in any part of the country. I am to add that if you will be so good as to indicate the sections of lines that it is particularly desired should be reopened, instructions will be given to have the matter adequately dealt with."

Immediately on receipt of that letter from the Ministry of Defence the Ministry of Commerce took steps to have the communication sent to the various railway companies, and asked them to indicate any particular sections of the line which they were prepared immediately to open up when protection would be accorded.

Generally speaking there has been a great improvement within the week in the re-opening of lines of railway. I may just briefly refer to the following:—

Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway:— The section between Dundalk and Greenore is closed owing to three bridges being broken thereon. The Company has been instructed to apply to the local Military Authorities for protection, and will institute temporary repairs and open the line immediately the protection is afforded.

Cork and Macroom Direct Railway:— The Ministry is advised that the line will be open in three days from the 23rd inst.

Schull and Skibbereen Light Railway:—Entirely closed. The Ministry is advising the Company to apply for protection, and understands that the damage on this line is not extensive.

Tralee and Dingle Light Railway:— Entirely closed. The Government Consulting Engineer has the question of protection in hands and the Ministry is today advising the Company that they should also apply to the Military Authorities. The Ministry is informed that the damage to this line can be repaired by the Company.

Cork and Muskerry Light Railway:— This line is open for passenger traffic only as Leemount Bridge, over which the line runs, is broken. The County Council are repairing this bridge and the Ministry is informed by the General Manager that he expects that the line will ready for Goods Traffic in about four weeks.

Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway:— Has just been opened for Passengers and Parcels Traffic. Goods Service is being maintained by the Company's boats on Cork Harbour.

Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway:—This line is now open as far as Bantry, and General Russell has informed the Ministry that repairs to the Skibbereen Branch are in hands.

In all the above cases the Companies are anxious to resume the Services, and no difficulty will, it is thought, arise.

Great Southern and Western Railway:—The following Sections of this are closed:—

Durrow and Mallow (a).

Banteer and Killarney (a).

Headford Jct and Kenmare (a).

Killorglin and Valentia (a).

Fermoy and Mitchelstown (a).

Waterford, Wellington Bridge and Rosslare Strand (a).

Claremorris and Sligo (a).

Borris and Palace East (a).

In connection with the Sections marked (a) the Ministry has received requests for an early resumption of the Service from Local Authorities and others.

The Ministry is in communication with the Company regarding protection for these lines, but it understands that there are some of them which are still badly damaged, and there are others on which the Company are not anxious to resume a Service. The Ministry is, however, pressing them in the matter.

Listowel and Ballybunion Railway:— Is also entirely closed, and the Ministry has communicated with the General Manager requesting him to seek the necessary protection. It is understood that the damage to the Permanent Way has been repaired by the Company.

With regard to the G. S. & W. Railway, in reply to Deputy Colohan, the Ministry received his letter relating to certain men unemployed in Kildare, and I am sorry he did not give the Dáil the substance of the reply he received. I realise none of the Deputies who spoke made a case against the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, but rather made a case against the railway companies, and it is none of the Ministry's business to defend the railway companies.

My point was the failure of the Ministry to bring necessary pressure to bear on the companies to repair the lines.

The question is what pressure the Ministry can bring to bear on the companies. In every case you are up against the legal difficulties in the matter. With regard to repair of overhead bridges, the Ministry has suggested to Deputy Davin that the County Councils should take legal advice in the matter, and it will be glad of information on the result of that advice.

With regard to large bridges, there are large bridges for the repair of which satisfactory arrangements could not be made with the G. S. & W. Railway, and which consequently are being repaired by the Government:

Taylorstown—Contract let to Hearne's, of Waterford. Spans and material arriving on site now.

Belvelly—Railway Maintenance Corps erecting a temporary bridge. Contract to be let at once for the provision of a new span.

Monard and Carrick—Contracts let in both cases to T.J. Moran & Co., Cork. Work in progress.

Dundrum—Work well under way. Being carried out by Government direct.

Ballyvoile—Design submitted by Consulting Engineer approved by Railway Company. Tenders being invited at the moment. Contract expected to be placed within a week.

Mallow—Work in connection with removal of debris nearing completion. Work in connection with new bridge in full swing in contractor's shop. Men will be on site any day now.

Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway: Chetwynde Viaduct— Repairs nearly completed. Practically whole line now open.

With regard to road bridges over railways, all Railway Companies are doing repairs except Great Southern and Western. It is understood that under the Railway Clauses Act, the statutory liability for repair rests on the Railway Company unless excluded by Special Act. G. S. W. Railway, however, states that it has agreements with the County Councils under which the cost of repair is to be borne by the Councils.

I may say the Ministry of Industry and Commerce does bring some compulsion on the railway companies as far as it can, and I should like to say that in the great majority of cases with the exception of the G. S. & W. Rly. Company, we were met half-way in our endeavours to bring about normal traffic.

On a point of information, I may state that we hope to have the whole section between Millstreet, Killarney, and Kenmare open by the middle of next week.

To-day I have made such arrangements that there will be no excuse for not having the railway running between Wexford and Wellington Bridge. That might not perhaps affect the Rosslare situation, but will at all events bring considerable relief to the local people.

It will be seen that the Sligo and Claremorris section of the railway had a trial train running over it yesterday, and sufficient protection will be provided in that area to ensure that there will be no excuse for not having a regular service in future.

The Dáil adjourned at 8.45 p.m. until Wednesday, 2nd May, at 3 p.m.

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