asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that a number of labourers employed by the forestry section of his Department at Colligan, Dungarvan, County Waterford have been laid off, while men with lesser service in the same gang working under the same forester (Mr. Cotter) have been retained, contrary to the generally accepted principle of last in first out; and if he will take steps to remedy this in order to satisfy all the workers as to the strict adherence to fair play in cases of necessary redundancy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Waterford Forestry Workers.
38.
Contraction in the volume of work available at Colligan property of Dungarvan forest made a staff reduction unavoidable. In cases of this nature it is the practice to examine carefully the claims to retention of each man employed before any decision is taken as to who should be discharged. Factors taken into consideration include each man's family and financial circumstances and his seniority of service but particular importance is attached to each man's work output and his attitude to work generally. I am satisfied that full consideration was given to those factors in this instance.