asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that in certain cases where civilian labour has been employed in connection with military posts, suitable members of the Local Defence Force, and the Local Security Force have been overlooked and jobs given to men who have been known to be actively in opposition to the formation of these Defence Corps; and if in future he will make an order that when civilian labour is being employed, either directly or through contractors, that first preference be given to suitable men in the Local Defence Force and the Local Security Force.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment at Military Posts.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. In answer to the second part of the question, the procedure adopted is that the existence of vacancies is notified to the employment exchange by the Corps of Engineers, and from the persons submitted by the employment exchange a selection is made by the local engineer officer, first preference being given to old I.R.A. men who have offered themselves for military service during the present emergency and have not been accepted for reasons of age or health. Second preference is given to persons who are members of any of the emergency defence organisations. As regards labour employed by contractors to the Department, I am not in a position to specify conditions of service.
I suggest to the Minister that it is necessary to do as I have requested. I did not put down this question without first having taken into consideration certain particular cases. Would the Minister think it worth while to inquire if this grievance does not actually exist in Kinsale? What I have indicated in the question is being perpetuated there. When civilian labour is required suitable men who are in the Local Defence and the Local Security Force have been actually overlooked while men actively in opposition to the formation of these bodies have secured the jobs. I think that in the future when civilian labour is being employed, directly or through contractors, the first preference should be given to suitable men who are amongst those who have freely placed their services at the disposal of their country.
Will the Minister indicate why there should be any preference?
Why should there not be?