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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 1963

Vol. 199 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retraining and Resettlement of Workers.

28.

andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the grave concern among workers about the growing unemployment and the possibility of redundancy, he will give an approximate date as to when he will be able to announce the Government's plans for retraining and resettlement schemes for those rendered redundant by the recent or proposed changes in industry.

I have nothing to add to what I said in reply to a question on this matter on 30th January last.

Is there any fundamental change in the Government's approach to the general principle that where people lose their jobs as a result of changes in industry, formerly applicable to our membership of EEC, they will be given facilities for resettlement or retraining?

As I have said on a number of occasions, the whole matter is under consideration by an interDepartmental Committee as well as by the Committee on Industrial Organisation. Until such time as the Government receives the reports from these two bodies they will not be in a position to say what action they will take.

May I ask whether any altered instructions have been given to this Committee since our application for membership of EEC has been put into abeyance?

The instructions that have been given are to continue the examination of the resettlement and redundancy problems. Those instructions have not been given to the CIO because I am not empowered to issue instructions to the CIO.

Would the Minister not accept that part of the recent considerable increase in unemployment must have been due to redundancy? There have been CIO reports on various aspects of industry and compensation, or help, or assistance for those redundant——

This is an entirely separate matter.

——but it has not been found possible to provide this report which affects many more people in a much more painful way.

That is outside the question.

It is not true to say that any part of the recent unemployment figures referred to is due to redundancy caused by any change in our employment pattern. It must be obvious, even to the Deputy, that the weather in recent weeks has caused a considerable increase in unemployment figures.

What is the difference between unemployment and redundancy to the man who is unemployed?

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