asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arising out of his speech in the Dáil on the 29th October last he will state the number of persons registered at employment offices on each Saturday in October, 1958, who at the time of registration were in employment as wage earners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Registered Unemployed: Employment as Wage Earners.
20.
The following is the statement of the numbers of persons registered at local offices of the Department of Social Welfare on each Saturday in October, 1958, who at the time of registration were specifically classified as being in employment as wage earners:—
|
date |
Number |
|
4th October, 1958 |
318 |
|
11th October, 1958 |
414 |
|
18th October, 1958 |
421 |
|
25th October, 1958 |
426 |
Would the Minister now compare these figures with the statement which he made in the Dáil on the 29th October, and he will see then that he was chancing his arm when making that statement?
I was not. The Deputy very carefully framed his question to try to trap me. In addition to the 426 persons I have mentioned, there was a considerable number of others, including 221 persons who were registered for seasonal work although they were in employment as farmers' sons. There were retired persons or others, such as students, not normally regarded as unemployed, who were registered for Post Office or other seasonal work. All these make up the fraction which I referred to.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that, when he was speaking in the Dáil on the 29th October, he sought to give the impression that the people described as unemployed under the heading of "other persons" in the weekly return issued, were, in fact, practically all employed and that these questions of mine have now elicited the fact that out of 3,000 or 4,000 people usually in that group only 300 or 400 are employed?
That is not a question, of course.
I agree, it is not a question, but I do ask you to bear with me while I just say, in conclusion, that we have taught the Minister something about the workings of the Department of Social Welfare. It has been a great struggle, I admit.
I shall not answer that absurd statement.
Are these students who are registered as unemployed employed by the Post Office?
They are looking for employment next Christmas. They are not unemployed now. They are among the farmers. Neither are the farmers' sons unemployed.
This might be described as another case of suppressio veri.
Ah, now.