asked the Minister for agriculture if he will state if it is his intention to close down the creamery known as the Rineen branch of the Cork and Kerry Creamery Company situated in West Cork; if so, if he is aware that the closing of this creamery will cause serious inconvenience and hardship to many of the suppliers, and if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Cork Creameries.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the names of the creameries or branch creameries in West Cork which it is proposed to close down.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that, as a result of the taking over of the privately-owned creameries in West Cork, certain creamery employees, some with long years of service, will lose their employment; and, if so, if he will state what provision is made to compensate or pension these persons.
I will take Questions Nos. 9, 10 and 11 together. No decision has yet been reached in regard to the closing of any creamery properties in West Cork which may be acquired under the Creameries (Acquisition) Act, 1943.
As regards compensation, I would refer the Deputy to my closing speech in the Dáil on the final stage of the Creameries (Acquisition) Act, 1943 (Columns 2454 and 2455 of the Official Report of May, 1943), in which I indicated the compensation to be paid to employees who lose employment as a result of the operation of the Act.
Can the Minister give me any idea of the date when these creameries will be taken over? Can he say how many of them will be closed? I should like to point out that there are farmers at present going to certain creameries that are expected to close, or that are suspected of being about to be closed, and they are not sure to what creamery they will have to go in a month or so. Will the Minister give some indication of what the position is likely to be?
A sales order is being served, I think to-day, on the proprietors concerned and, under the Act passed here in 1943, six weeks must elapse before the creameries can be taken over. They may be taken over by the Dairy Disposals Board at the end of six weeks, if agreement is not reached in the meantime. With regard to the closing, I cannot say what the Dairy Disposals Board may propose with regard to any individual creamery. That is a matter that will have to get full consideration.
As to compensation, what body will have the fixing of compensation? Some consideration must be given to persons who may be thrown out of employment.
I have referred the Deputy to my closing speech in the Dáil on the final stage of the 1943 Act. It is fixed on a certain scale.