asked the Minister for Labour whether his Department have any plans for the production of guidelines of personnel policy for the use of State companies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Personnel Policy of State Companies.
51.
In my view each State body should, as far as possible, be left free to develop a personnel policy suited to its own needs. However, I maintain contact with these bodies on labour matters of general concern.
I am concerned that the Minister's Department should lay down certain guidelines for the use of State companies. The British and Irish Steam Packet Company, for example, is preparing to lay off men in the despatch department without attempting to absorb these people, with long service, into other sections of the company. I put down this question in the hope that the Department would try to inform State companies about the ordinary decencies of industrial relations trade unions expect.
This is not a question; it is a statement.
There is a question mark at the end of what I am saying—the next sentence. Could the Department of Labour not provide such advice to State companies?
If the Deputy asks a question, I shall allow it but he is making a statement as to what other people are doing.
Here is a regrettable case of a State company not trying to absorb people into other sections of the company and where a guideline from the Department would certainly help. Can the Minister provide such a guideline to the British and Irish Steam Packet Company? Can the Minister provide a guideline in general, on rules of behaviour in State companies?
If the Deputy were more specific, I might have answered in a more specific way.
I was doing my best for the Ceann Comhairle.
The Deputy asked about personnel; "personnel" includes recruitment, promotion, division of work, wages, salaries, hours of work, holidays, pensions—it is a very wide area and it is a function of management. There are highly paid men in these bodies to take care of it. I do not think it is a job for me to do.
But where redundancy is coming off and a State company does not try to do anything about it, they should be required to absorb such redundancy.
The Minister for Transport and Power recently reported on the personnel arrangements of these companies for which he is responsible. He sent me copies and the general picture emerging was one of the devoting of a great deal of attention to personnel, management and the training of officers in such management. But a specific case such as the Deputy has in mind——
Would the Minister not agree that a State company should at least provide a headline, if we have a case—as we have—that the despatch department of the British and Irish Steam Packet Company is laying off men, without attempting to absorb them into the company? Would the Minister not agree that this is a ludicrous practice for a State company to be operating?
It would be very regrettable if I took over the functions of managements in relation to personnel. I am sure the Deputy would be one of the first to object to the Minister taking over these functions. This is something to be done by management in consultation with the unions.
Could the Minister say whether or not he is satisfied that the personnel of the State companies are sufficiently skilled in industrial relations?
This question of whether or not the Minister is satisfied can never be answered. All I can say is that the picture emerging from the report I have got shows that considerable attention is being devoted by these State bodies to personnel management. I am sure a great deal more could be done both by State bodies and private management in this regard.
Would the Minister not agree that the question could be answered if he had a close study made of the operations of the personnel departments of these State bodies?
Could we have the report referred to by the Minister supplied to him by his colleague, the Minister for Transport and Power? Is this for public consumption?
It was sent to me by the Minister for Transport and Power as a matter of courtesy. It was a report from each State body for which the Minister for Transport and Power is responsible. It gave me a general picture of what goes on in the State bodies. Each personnel department is tailored to meet the requirements of the particular State body.
Could Deputies have a look at this?
It would not be for me to give it out.
I am curious to see a copy of it. The Minister for Transport and Power is a rich source of anti-Labour speeches.
Question No. 52.
Would I be allowed to put a supplementary question?
I cannot allow questions all day on this.
You are disallowing one supplementary?
I have allowed several supplementaries. Question No. 52.
May I ask one supplementary?
I have allowed all the supplementaries I can allow.