asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the position in relation to redundancy payments for those workers previously employed by Messrs. Rawson and Sons, Dundalk, County Louth.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Redundancy Payments for Dundalk Workers.
22.
In view of the exceptional circumstances in which the workers in this factory lost their jobs, the Government have decided that special payments should be made to alleviate the hardship for the workers concerned. The Supplementary Estimate necessary to enable the payments to be made will be introduced as soon as possible and I hope that it will be possible to make the payments before Christmas. Full details of the proposed payments will be given when the Supplementary Estimate is being moved.
First, I should like to say thanks on behalf of those workers.
You are welcome.
Could the matter be expedited because certain of these people are in the position of having to go to England to feed their families?
I will have to get it from the House.
Might I ask the Minister whether the principle applied to the workers declared redundant in Rawsons will apply to other workers during the passage of this particular Bill? Will the same principle apply to other cases of hardship?
The principle applied in Rawsons is the principle of sudden destruction by fire in a disaster. Any argument to bring this to bear on other situations would be an argument against helping the workers in Rawsons.
That is very good on the Minister's part, but he will not accuse us of trying to get rid of the compensation for Rawsons' workers, when what we are seeking is to extend the Minister's mercy. We are seeking to get equal treatment for those workers declared unemployed because their employers do not wish to come under the provisions of the Minister's Bill in January.
If I can have the details I promise I will deal with them.