asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware of the fact that Michael McArdle, of Haggard Street, Trim, Co. Meath, who was recently employed to do work as a mason for Mr. Sargeant, building contractor, at present engaged in constructing houses for the Trim Urban Council, was prevented from taking up work owing to intimidation by members of a local Fianna Fáil Cumann, and whether in view of this fact, the Minister will withhold the grants under the Housing Acts in respect of these houses, until the regulations governing the employment of men in such cases, through the labour exchange, are complied with.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trim Council's Building Work.
I have no information as to the allegations made by the Deputy. There are no regulations requiring the recruitment of labour for housing contracts through the labour exchanges. The position generally as to the recruitment of labour for these schemes is as explained in my reply to Deputy O'Neill.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the fact that in this case a petition was signed by 30 ratepayers asking that this man should be employed on this particular scheme as it was part of the contract with the contractor that local labour should be employed where possible; is the Minister aware that Michael McArdle was not employed owing to any charge of incompetency; that no charge of incompetency was preferred against him and that handy men living nine or ten miles away were brought in to work on the job, the only difference between them and McArdle being that they were members of a Fianna Fáil club and he was not?