asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state (a) the date on which the services of a temporary clerk were terminated in the employment exchange at Longford; (b) the reasons for the termination of his employment; (c) the place he occupied on the panel for re-employment; (d) the name and address of the person employed in his place and his qualifications for the post, and (e) what place the man concerned now occupies on the panel for re-employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Staffing of Longford Employment Exchange.
The employment as a temporary clerk at Longford employment exchange was terminated on 4th July, 1951, due to the normal seasonal fall in the volume of work. A recent increase in the number of unemployed registered at Longford exchange has, however, necessitated the re-engagement of an additional temporary clerk and this man, as the person next available from the local panel of temporary clerks, has been re-employed there since the 6th March. No other temporary clerk was employed in his place.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the fact that this person has been employed temporarily at each period and that last July he was let off? He was then placed No. 1 on the panel for re-employment but when that re-employment became available he was not re-employed and another person was taken in instead?
I am aware that three temporary clerks were employed between October and January in strict seniority.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the person who is normally employed was first on the list and is not now so employed, and that a person who was not employed prior to that has been brought in a distance of six miles to the town of Longford, and given employment in place of this person who was formerly employed?
I said in reply to the Deputy that no other temporary clerk was employed in his place and no other temporary clerk has been employed.
Is the person employed now resident in the town of Longford or is he from a distance of six miles outside the town, and is he a person who has very prominent political affiliations?
Nobody has been employed in a temporary nature in the Longford Exchange except in strict seniority.
Or members of the local Fianna Fáil cumann.
That is a lie.
On a point of order, the Parliamentary Secretary has said that a statement made by Deputy Dillon is a lie. I think the Chair should take notice of that.
The Chair would take notice of it if the Chair heard it. That expression should not be used, and if it was used should be withdrawn.
I withdraw the expression.