asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what employment he proposes to make available to clerks and office staff of Bord na Móna whose employment has been terminated as a result of the cessation of the hand-won turf scheme, and if he will also consider the position of gangers and other officials who cannot secure alternative employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord na Móna and Aer Lingus Staffs.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give the Dáil some definite information regarding the re-employment of those men whose employment in Bord na Móna and Aer Lingus Teoranta has been terminated.
With your permission, a Chinn Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
The Government are anxious that any staffs becoming redundant in Bord na Móna and the air companies should be facilitated in seeking alternative employment. Departments employing temporary clerical staff are being asked by the Department of Finance to fill any vacancies arising for such staff from the clerks and office workers displaced from the State-sponsored organisations. As already announced in the Dáil, financial provision has been made in the Vote for Employment and Emergency Schemes for the employment on road works and drainage schemes of workers displaced by the cessation of hand-won turf production by local authorities and Bord na Móna.
Arising out of the reply to question No. 47, is the Minister aware that Deputy Flanagan voted for the cessation of the hand-won turf scheme?
I did nothing of the kind.
The Minister is quite aware——
Of that, certainly.
——that Deputy MacEntee was prepared to abandon the hand-won turf scheme if he had been returned to this side of the House.
That is an untrue and inaccurate statement.
I will stand over everything I did in the past.
Unlike Deputy MacEntee.
Question No. 49, Deputy Cogan.
What Deputy MacEntee cannot do.