asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that men who are sent from the Cork Employment Exchange to work at Collins Barracks, Cork, have been refused employment because they were not members of the Local Defence Forces, and if he will state whether instructions to this effect are being issued from his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment at Cork Barracks.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and no instructions such as the Deputy refers to have been issued by my Department.
Has the Minister made inquiries as to why a man who got a card from the labour exchange for employment at Cork Barracks was asked whether he was a member of the Local Security Force? The same man had three sons in the Army, one in Roscommon, one in Cork and one in Tipperary. He was told he was not wanted.
The question the Deputy asked was whether men sent from Cork Employment Exchange to Collins Barracks have been refused employment because they were not members of the Local Defence Forces.
Yes.
The answer to that is that no such instructions were issued by the Department of Defence.
I am pleased to hear that.