asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that on the 3rd February last, Mr. Rebert Brennan of 40 Eden Villas, Glasthule, was charged before a district justice with breaking a window in the offices of the labour exchange, Dún Laoghaire, that this action of Mr. Brennan's, who is married and the father of five young children, was taken as the only means at his disposal of registering a protest at his failure to find employment and thus provide food for his family; and that the district justice at the trial made certain remarks inferring criticism of the administration which denied the defendant his natural rights, and if he will state whether employment has been offered to and accepted by unmarried men in preference to Mr. Brennan, and if he will indicate whether any remedial steps have been taken in view of the remarks made by the district justice, and if Mr. Brennan may hope for employment in the immediate future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Exchange Incident.
The man to whom the Deputy refers was duly considered for submission for any suitable vacancies notified to Dún Laoghaire Employment Exchange during the time he was registering at that office. In the past two years he was submitted for employment on seven occasions, on five of which he was engaged, and he is at present working for Dún Laoghaire Corporation following such a submission.
In accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper (P. No. 7053) issued in 1945 by the Department of Defence, Mr. Brennan is not eligible for submission for subordinate employment in the Government service if suitable applicants who served with the Defence Forces during the emergency are available.