asked the Minister for Finance whether Patrick Walsh was dismissed from his position in the Botanic Gardens; and whether his dismissal was connected with the appointment of Messrs. McCabe and Yourell.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Positions in Botanic Gardens.
Mr. Patrick Walsh was employed as a casual labourer in a purely temporary capacity through the Office of Public Works periodical contractors. He was released owing to redundancy. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
Is it not true that the redundancy in the Botanic Gardens was created by the appointment of Messrs. Yourell and McCabe and that it was consequent on their appointment that Mr. Walsh was directed to go to Aldboro' House, and having worked there for three or four days was dismissed on the grounds that he could not be retained in the Botanic Gardens because the appointment of Yourell and McCabe had created a redundancy there?
No, Walsh was taken on as a casual labourer for temporary work on the 5th December, 1944. A succession of small jobs and illnesses of quasi-permanent men sometimes result in the continued employment of casuals for fairly long periods. Walsh became redundant in October, 1944, and was released.
Was not that after Yourell and McCabe were employed?
Yes.
Yourell and McCabe are brought in and Walsh is kicked out, a man with a wife and five children. He is kicked out to walk the streets of Dublin.
Question 14.
And will remain until Fianna Fáil is kicked out.
Does the Deputy wish to ask Question 14?
I do, and Questions 15, 16, 17 and 18.
Question 14 was called and the Deputy did not reply.
asked the Minister for Finance whether Mr. McCabe was dismissed from his position at the Botanic Gardens, and reinstated by directions issuing from the Office of Public Works.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Mr. McCabe was employed in a purely temporary capacity from 11th February, 1946, owing to the absence through illness of another labourer on whose resumption of work on 21st March, 1946, Mr. McCabe became redundant and was released. He was reemployed through the contractors on the 27th March, 1946, to fill a vacancy for a quasi-permanent labourer.
Is it not true that when McCabe was notified that he would have to withdraw on the grounds of redundancy that he stated publicly that he had no intention of withdrawing, that he was going over straight to the Board of Works to get reinstated, that he knew the Parliamentary Secretary and that another man, a married man, was dismissed in his stead and that Mr. McCabe was put back? Is not that true?
No. I have no information to that effect. It is not true.
It is true.
Of course, the Deputy is always right.
asked the Minister for Finance whether, on the occasion of Mr. Yourell being engaged in the Botanic Gardens, a Mr. Reilly was dismissed; and if he will state for what reason Mr. Reilly's services were dispensed with.
Mr. Yourell was employed in May, 1945, through the periodical contractors to fill a vacancy for a labourer on the Office of Public Works maintenance staff at the Botanic Gardens.
Mr. Reilly was employed on 2nd March, 1945, as a casual labourer for temporary work which was expected to last two or three weeks. On the termination of this work his employment was continued up to May, 1945, by reason of the illness and subsequent death of a regular labourer, and pending the filling of the quasi-permanent vacancy.
Now you have looked up the wrong file and the Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Fogarty are clamouring.
About a different matter entirely.
You are all there.
I have answered the Deputy's question, and not from the wrong file.