asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to the statement appearing in the editorial of the "Irish Press" of Friday last, 21st October, to the effect that some of the increase in unemployment may be due to displacements in industries hit by the economic war though these should at least be balanced by the 32,000 people who, according to the Minister, have found work through the new tariffs and whether he will state (a) the total number of (1) men, (2) women, (3) boys and (4) girls who have found work through the new tariffs; and (b) the total number of (1) men, (2) women, (3) boys and (4) girls who have lost employment in industries hit by the economic war; and (c) what the 32,000 above referred to does represent?
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Figures.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Information as to the number of additional persons employed in industries affected by recent tariff changes is being collected but is not yet complete. There is no precise information in my Department as to the number of persons displaced from employment as a consequence of the special British duties on Irish Free State products. I am not clear what figure the Deputy refers to in the final part of his question, but it is possible he has in mind the number of vacancies filled through the medium of the Employment Exchanges which, of course, has no relation to the number of persons employed in tariffed industries.
Is the Minister aware that on Thursday, 20th October, when discussing unemployment here he said he was glad to have the opportunity of dealing with certain points I raised, because of the fact that confusion had been caused as a result of statements made in the "Press," based upon misrepresentations of the Minister's figures? Do we understand that the Minister has not made himself aware of the statements that I refer to, which were made in the "Press" of the following day, again completely misrepresenting the re-statement the Minister had made? As the misstatements were made by the Government organ on Friday, after the Minister had on Thursday attempted to clear up the situation, and in view of the complaint the Minister has already made of the confusion that has arisen, will he take some steps to see that the Government organ does not misrepresent the unemployment figures that the Minister gives?
If I act on the Deputy's suggestion, and introduce proposals for legislation giving the Government authority and power over everything that appears in the newspapers, will the Deputy support them?
Does not the Minister think that there is importance attaching to some of these matters dealing with unemployment which could be given as reasonable for the introduction of legislation to deal with unemployment as against legislation dealing with some of the things the Minister is dealing with?
I take it that the Deputy is advocating a censorship.
I would be very glad if he stopped the misrepresentation of figures that is going on in some organs in the country.
Would not the Minister arrange that if the "Irish Press" did not publish the correct figures to have a strike called, and then to withdraw the figures afterwards?