asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that a large number of men employed by Bord na Móna in the Walsh Island district of County Offaly have been let go and are now unemployed; if he will request the Board to have immediate employment found for these men so that they will be working for the Christmas period; and if he will take steps to see that in future there is not a wholesale dismissal of workers on the approach of Christmas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disemployment of Turf Workers.
18.
The recruitment and employment of workers is the sole responsibility of Bord na Móna. On inquiry, however, I have been informed by Bord na Móna that turf harvesting operations were retarded this year due to weather conditions and that a number of workers are now being laid off at the Board's Clonsast and Garryhinch works who would normally have been laid off earlier this year. Apart from this factor, development drainage work on a portion of Clonsast Bog is inevitably decreasing and a number of men hitherto employed on this work during the winter months have had to be laid off.
The total number of men from the Walsh Island district laid off or about to be laid off is 23.
Unfortunately there are no steps that the Board can take to prevent lay-off of workers each year according as harvesting operations terminate or less drainage work is available. The maximum number of men for whom work is available is always retained in employment.
May I ask if the Minister considers it reasonable that Bord na Móna should select Christmas week to dispense with the services of 23 men, in a district where there is no alternative employment of any kind and would he not make representations to Bord na Móna and, as Minister for Transport and Power, insist that workers be employed at this particular period to carry them over the Christmas?
I am perfectly certain that these workers were fully aware of the fact, and that the Deputy is also fully aware, that they were being kept on longer than usual on account of weather conditions during the harvesting season and that they actually received a longer spell of work than that normally enjoyed. The Deputy knows, too, that a great many areas in County Offaly have been transformed through the work of Bord na Móna. It is equally understood that this work is entirely seasonal and depends on weather and technical conditions on the bogs. The date on which work stops depends on these factors and nobody has any doubts about them. It is regrettable that alternative work cannot be found and it is unlikely such alternative work will be available there until an industry is established or until such time as the bogs have been sufficiently cut away to permit of forestry development.
Does the Minister suggest that there should be hibernating hedgehogs here, too?
I have already dealt with this in great detail in the House and have pointed out the extraordinarily keen competition in turf products in all their different forms with coal and that Bord na Móna will go to the utmost limit always to provide this very valuable source of employment in these areas.
Surely the Minister should realise that the lowest paid worker is not the man who will contribute to the keeping down of costs?
That is a separate question.
19.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that 12 men with an average of eight years' service on the bogs of Bord na Móna at Littleton, County Tipperary, have been notified that their employment will cease on the 20th December, 1962; and if he will take immediate steps to ensure that these dismissal notices are withdrawn, as there is no alternative work available in this area.
The recruitment and employment of workers is the sole responsibility of Bord na Móna. On inquiry I have been informed by Bord na Móna that as harvesting operations were retarded this year the board were able to retain a number of workers in employment up to 20th December who would otherwise have been let go earlier. As harvesting work is now completed, some 47 workers must be let go from the board's bog at Littleton. These include 12 workers whom the board were able to retain in employment in previous years on drainage work but this work is no longer available for them and there is no other work on which they could be employed. These workers will, however, be given first priority for reemployment in the spring.
Will the Minister not agree that the dismissing of 12 men some four days before Christmas is a particularly dispicable act which no Christian employer would be guilty of and will he not in the circumstances have regard to the shock, disappointment and hardship caused to these men and their families? Many of them have had more than eight years in the service of Bord na Móna. In the circumstances, will the Minister not insist that the workers be reinstated, as a matter of urgency?
I am sure that Bord na Móna would do their utmost, if they could. As I have stated in reply to the previous Question, the allegation that this came as a shock to the workers when, in fact, their employment was prolonged over and above normal and when they had a longer spell of work than they usually have, is not justified. These men are well aware that their employment is seasonal.
These are men with long service, with an average of eight years' service.
Could I ask the Minister is it not so that Government or State bodies ought to be model employers? What would any of us say if any one of us employing men told them on 20th December that they were sacked? Would we not say we were not fit to be employers? Would we not keep the men on the books until 31st December and let them go then? Is there any man on the Government front benches who would sack his employee virtually on Christmas Eve?
The Minister has no function.
Would he not keep him over the Christmas and give him a week's wages? I do suggest to the Minister he should say to a State company under his control that it is not seemly to sack a man on Christmas Eve. Keep him until the end of the week and give him his week's wages. Would any of us do it? It would not be a murderous expense to keep 12 men on for a few days.
Up to a couple of days ago, the Deputy was complaining that Bord na Móna were not making profits. He was riding a different horse then?
There is a wide difference between that and sacking a man on Christmas Eve. Before the Minister goes on, would he not say a word to Bord na Móna?
I have always indicated to Bord na Móna that they should do their utmost to employ as many men as possible. In this particular case, the men had a longer spell of work than usual. They are not members of a group of employees, such as road workers whose employment in October, November and December is a matter of interest to them. These men know they are being employed seasonally and in fact on this occasion, they all knew they were having a longer spell of employment than usual because of the fact that operations had been retarded due to bad weather.
All the Minister has to do is send a note to Bord na Móna and the men will be kept on. May I ask in connection with the men of Walsh Island——
I have called Question No. 20. The Deputy may not intervene at this stage.
I should like to give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment. The Minister cannot get away with that kind of codology.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.