asked the Minister of Industry and Commerce if he is aware that in a recent Dublin business takeover (details supplied) a number of sales staff were disemployed and were subsequently offered jobs at wages from £3 10s 0d to £4 per week less; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that wage reductions or unemployment are not effected in this way by business rationalisation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Business Takeover.
48.
While it may be taken that mergers of firms or associations between firms will generally aim at expansion of production and employment, the possibility must exist that, in particular cases, there may be some loss of employment. The Government's manpower policy is designed to mitigate, through schemes for redundancy payments, resettlement allowances and retraining, the effects on workers of any measures to rationalise industry which give rise to redundancy. In the particular case to which the Deputy refers, I understand that a small number of sales personnel was redundant in one of the companies involved, that alternative employment was available for some of the persons concerned and severance pay was paid to those for whom alternative employment was not available.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the severance pay to which he referred consisted of two weeks pay? Does he think that is a fair deal for people who spent years— a considerable number of years in some cases—in the service of this firm? Further, the Parliamentary Secretary referred to the Government's policy in regard to manpower and redundancy. Could he tell us when will we have concrete proposals before the House on this very urgent and important matter? It seems to be becoming more and more urgent with the passage of time, because obviously more and more firms are going to disemploy people, by the looks of things.
I did not hear the Deputy. How many weeks severance pay did he say?
Two weeks.
My information was that it was eight weeks and that this was negotiated by agreement with the Irish Transport and General Workers Union.
Even if was eight weeks does the Parliamentary Secretary consider that that is fair?
In regard to the second part of the supplementary, I should like to say that the Advisory Committee, which consists of representatives of ICTU and FUE, have been continuously engaged in national wage talks for the past month or so, with the result that they have not been able to meet as such for the purpose of discussing redundancy proposals.
Who did the Parliamentary Secretary say was on the committee?
Two representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and two from the FUE.
They are to blame then for the lack of legislation in this House?
I did not say that. I do not want to appear as saying that either.
The inference is plain.
I reject the imputation in Deputy Dunne's statement that this is so. I am merely explaining that these are very busy men and they have been unable to hold meetings for the past month or so, which is a matter of regret to them as well as to me.