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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Jul 1967

Vol. 229 No. 12

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment in Wexford Firm.

29.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether or not there are any developments with regard to the improvement in employment at a firm (name supplied) in Wexford.

I understand that, on the basis of recommendations made to the firm by industrial consultants, they are engaged on replanning their production and employment pattern. I am informed that this programme gives good prospects for the future development and expansion of the firm.

The Minister for Education, in reply to a similar question put down by me on 21st June, was rather hopeful there would be an improvement in the employment in this factory. Is the Minister aware that since that question was answered, this factory has closed down completely? The men and a substantial number of the office staff have been laid off. Would the Minister say whether there has been any result of discussions this firm had with departmental officials?

I am not aware that the firm has closed down completely.

My information is not to that effect. It is to the effect that some people have been laid off and others have been sent on phased extended holidays.

At their own expense.

Would Deputies of the Labour Party prefer that they be laid off? Deputy Corish will be aware that the problem here is that there has been a peak number of employees engaged at certain periods and when there has been a valley period of production, people have been laid off. The object of what is going on is to try to ensure there will be continuity of employment. The Deputy will be aware, too, that the trade unions have been consulted in regard to this matter and, I understand, are agreeable to the programme being carried out.

I would suggest the Minister make himself better informed. These men are walking the streets of Wexford. They are not in employment and there is no prospect of employment for the majority of them for another two months. I do not think the Minister knows the position down there. People who have given 30 or 40 years' service have now been told there is no prospect of employment for them.

That is not the information available to me.

It is the information I got from the men.

They do not count.

If I put down another question in two weeks' time, would the Minister be in a position to give me any details with regard to the discussions the Minister for Education told me were taking place?

I have available to me the results of these discussions. I am not at liberty to disclose some of the information available, but I have disclosed to the Deputy and the House portion of the information available to me, which the Deputy now says is not correct.

I do not think these men should be kept hanging on there. They should be told if they are getting employment. My information is—it may not be correct—that this industry is going to have a substantially reduced staff, with no redundancy payments.

I cannot tell the Deputy what the ultimate number employed will be, but I know the objective is to ensure there will be continuity of employment, which there has not been before.

For a lesser number?

This might be so, but I do not know what the number is.

With reference to the Minister's remark about extended holidays, could he say what the extended holidays are and if these people are paid?

Not at all: two months without pay.

They are not paid for the summer period.

May I take it they are paid for approximately two weeks only?

They have ten weeks' free holidays.

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