asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when it is proposed to re-employ Mr. Patrick Delaney, Drumakeenan, Roscrea, Offaly, in the local State forest; and if he is not already employed whether he will have him provided with work immediately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Forestry Worker.
Mr. Delaney voluntarily left his employment at Roscrea State forest on the 23rd January, 1950. Another man was recruited in his place and the full labour complement is now employed at Roscrea forest.
Is it not a fact that the Minister himself received a long written complaint concerning the conduct of the local forester in this case, which the Minister was good enough to have investigated? As a result of the investigation, Mr. Dalaney has not been re-employed. Could the Minister indicate the reasons for the non-reemployment of Mr. Delaney?
I am quite familiar with this case. Mr. Delaney made a series of very serious charges, not alone against our head forester there, but also against a foreman. They were all investigated and, with the exception of one possible tiny crumb of truth, they were all found to be entirely misleading and nothing could be done——
In view of the fact that there was a tiny crumb of truth——
Let me finish. Mr. Delaney left of his own free will on the date that I mentioned. Another man was taken on. We have enough men there. Without dispensing with the newcomer or some of the older men, we have not employment for any extra men, including Mr. Delaney.
In view of the tiny crumb of truth, would the Minister's Department undertaken to have a first-class reference given to Mr. Delaney so as to enable him to secure employment elsewhere, when the Forestry Department will not re-employ him?
I will not. In view of some of the statements he made, which we found, after a lot of expensive inquiry and investigation, to be false, I will not give him a reference. If there is an expansion of work in our forest there, I will consider giving Mr. Delaney employment when such expansion occurs.
What is he to live on in the meantime?
He had his work. Why did he throw it up?
If he is not taken back in a fortnight's time I will be down there to see the forester.
The head forester will not have any authority to enter into a contract with the Deputy.