asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has been in consultation with Messrs. A. Guinness, Son and Company regarding the recent dismissals in that firm, and whether he has suggested to the firm the adoption of a system of rotational employment or similar arrangement to obviate extreme hardship in many cases; if so, if he will state the result and, if not, whether he will undertake to do so.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissals by Brewery Company.
The desire of the Government that the disemployment of workers should, if possible, be avoided or minimised during the period in which it is necessary to prohibit exports of beer was conveyed to the representatives of Messrs. Guinness and Company by officers of the Department of Supplies and by myself, personally, together with an intimation of my willingness to reconsider the margins allowed to the firm on home sales if such adjustment was considered necessary by the firm. Messrs. Guinness and Company intimated, however, that the disemployment of a number of workers was considered necessary.
Following the publication of a notice by Messrs. Guinness and Company that a number of its employees were about to be dispensed with, the Department of Industry and Commerce discussed with the firm's administrative officer the matter of the adoption of a short-time scheme to cover the employees being dismissed. The company had been previously supplied with a memorandum on the subject of the prolongation of employment by means of short-time working, in which were given examples of the many systems under which payment of unemployment benefit or assistance can be made for recurring spells of unemployment and an outline of the special arrangements that may be made for dealing with short-time workers either at the local office of the Department or at the firm's premises.
My Department was, however, subsequently informed that the whole matter has been fully considered by the board of the company but that it had not been considered practicable to adopt a short-time system of working.
Is the Minister in a position to state if any consultations have taken place with, or if any representations have been made to, Irish maltsters, with a view to obtaining the necessary barley so as to avoid any dismissals; and, if so, with what result?
I do not get the Deputy's point. It has been decided to limit the quantity of barley that may be malted in the present cereal situation so that barley may be available for use in flour production.
Has the Minister had any consultations with Irish maltsters with a view to obtaining necessary supplies so as to prevent any dismissals from the brewery; and, if so, with what result?
The question that arises in this connection is the quantity of barley that may be malted. The full quantity of barley offered for sale will be purchased. A proportion of that will be released for malting. The remainder will be used for admixture with wheat in the production of flour.