asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether steps have been taken by him to have the strike of forestry workers at Blessington settled; and, if not, the reason.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Workers' Strike.
There was a strike at this forest last month. At the Deputy's request, I met some of the men involved and on my advice work was resumed. I then had an investigation carried out on the spot by two senior officers of the Department and, as I am fully satisfied that there is no justification for the present strike, I can only repeat my advice to the men to go back to work.
Does the Minister consider that men in charge of workers in the forestry section of the Department of Lands are entitled to address themselves to the workers when carrying out their duties in such a manner as to cast doubts upon the legitimacy of the workers, and to use foul and filthy language to the workers? Does he consider that, when men stop work as a protest against that kind of attitude on the part of those in charge of the workers, they are unreasonable, and does he think that that kind of conduct should be allowed by any responsible Minister on the part of his officials?
The Minister did not do it.
I want, first of all, to point out to Deputy Corry that this is not a laughing matter. I want to say that it is no joke to be laughing at men who are out trying to earn their day's wages. It is all right for Deputy Corry to sit in his comfortable seat.
It is no laughing matter if Deputy Dunne's allegations are true.
I want to assure Deputy Dunne that I do not stand over, nor should I like that anyone in the Department would be guilty of, the conduct which he alleges. The history of the case is that these men went on strike. First of all, none of the men, except one, ever had any experience of, and never worked under the particular head labourer that they objected to, or raised complaints about. They went back to work on my advice. Since then, the men have assured the two senior officials of the Department whom I sent down to investigate the charges which they made, that there has been no bad language, such as the men complained about in the first instance. That is the situation. I believe that there is no justifiable cause for the men to be on strike this time.
This is a very serious matter. I would like to ask the Minister if he thinks it is reasonable to assume that over 30 men will stop work in County Wicklow, and especially in West Wicklow where it is particularly hard to find work, just for amusement? Is he not aware of the fact that this particular overseer was removed by the Department on a previous occasion because of the fact that he had been using language of the type which I have described to these men? Will he not, in these circumstances, reexamine the position with a view to having this man removed from the company of the men over whom he has been put in charge, because I think the situation is a scandalous one?
I want to assure the Deputy that if I had any reasonable proof at all that the situation was as he has just outlined it, I would not stand over the man's conduct for one moment. On the other hand, I do not think it would be fair to remove the man, seeing that the men themselves have admitted that since then there has not been a single complaint. The men themselves admitted that to the two officials whom I sent down. Unless there was some reasonable grounds for doing so, I would not like to be guilty of removing a man and of reducing him in his status or pay without some just cause. That is the situation.
Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.