(South Tipperary), Mr. Ryan, Mr. T. O'Donnell, Mr. L. Belton and Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of male telephone operators now reporting for work at (a) Dublin (b) Cork (c) Limerick and (d) Shannon; and the pre-strike number of such workers employed at these centres.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Male Telephone Operators.
58.
Mr. P. Hogan
The numbers are (a) 66, (b) 8, (c) 1 and (d) none. The pre-strike figures were 224, 13, 14 and 3 respectively. In addition to the regular staff there are panels of parttime night telephone assistants at Dublin, Cork and Limerick from which numbers are drawn as required from time to time to assist during the early night hours. These are not included in the figures already quoted. As I mentioned in reply to a question on 28th October these part-timers have been prevented from reporting for work at Dublin as a result of intimidation by members of the Irish Telephonists' Association.
(South Tipperary): Does the Minister agree that the majority of the male night telephone operators have withdrawn their services?
These form only part of the telephonists employed in the entire service.
(South Tipperary): I am asking the Minister about the male night telephone operators.
The figures here do not indicate as to whether the operators are absent on sick leave or because of strike action, or whether they are members of one or other particular association or union. I do not see what purpose is being served by the question.
(South Tipperary): I will tell the Minister the purpose being served. Does the Minister still deny—I do not think he can on the basis of these figures—the right of the ITA to represent the telephone operators——
That, surely, does not arise.
(South Tipperary):——and the right to form a free association to represent them at arbitration?
That does not arise on this question.
Is the Minister aware that yesterday it was impossible to get a phone call from this House to Foxford? I tried to get through last night and failed.
When the Minister says that temporary night telephonists are being intimidated, does he think that is a proper statement to make? Does it present a true picture of the facts? Is it a statement a Minister should make in this House? In what way are these people being intimidated?
They are being spat upon.
I know more about this than the Deputy does. The Deputy is probing into something for no other purpose than to bedevil a situation which is already bad enough.
I understand it is the democratic right of an elected representative to ask a Parliamentary Question. I object to the Minister describing the exercise of that right as bedevilling. I want an answer to my question.
(Cavan): Does the Minister not agree he bedevilled the situation by the injudicious introduction of the Offences against the State Act, thereby turning a mole-hill into a mountain?
That does not arise on this question.
Can the Minister assure us that we will be able to get phone calls to our homes and constituents?
That does not arise. Everything does not arise on this question.
There is no use in the Minister doing Pontius Pilate.
I should like the Minister to inform the House what he meant when he said temporary night telephonists were being intimidated. By whom?
(South Tipperary): In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
With regard to the question in relation to intimidation, I gave the information because I know the facts. Two people will be in court tomorrow and two have already been in court. This is a statement of fact. Surely the Deputy knows what is happening?
(Cavan): They are in court because the Minister invoked the Offences against the State Act.
That has nothing to do with the question.
I have asked the Minister a question. Surely he should explain to the House what is happening, in view of the national crisis we are experiencing at the moment?
(Cavan): Two national crises.
What is the question?
When the Minister says night telephonists are being intimidated, I want to know does he know who is intimidating them. We know that that statement is not true. What evidence has the Minister got?
I made a statement that certain night telephonists were refusing to go to work because they were being intimidated.
In what way?
The matter is being pursued. There are prosecutions pending. Some prosecutions will be heard in court tomorrow and some have already been heard in connection with the said intimidation. There are no kudos in this for the Deputy.
There are less for the Minister. It is about time he stopped doing Pontius Pilate.