asked the Minister for Labour whether any study is proceeding to enable workers who have broken employment to be covered under the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Redundancy Payments.
54.
There are provisions in the Redundancy Payments Act for preserving continuity of service where there are temporary cessations of employment.
55.
asked the Minister for Labour whether copyholders in the printing trade are covered under the provisions of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967.
I assume that the question relates to copyholders employed in the Dublin area, where, I understand, the practice in the printing trade is to dismiss copyholders when they reach 21 years of age and to replace them with new recruits. Dismissals in accordance with this practice do not in my view satisfy the definition of redundancy contained in section 7 (2) of the Redundancy Payments Act. I might add that any person concerned who is dissatisfied with a decision given in this regard is entitled to have the question referred to the Redundancy Appeals Tribunal.
What the Minister says is quite true. Is the Minister aware that these young people are contributing to the redundancy fund and no one objects to their contributions? They are allowed to contribute and then they are told they do not come within the provisions of the Act. Is the Minister also aware that there are many young people in this position in Dublin who, in accordance with the provisions of the Bill we passed, fulfil all the requirements, and when they have made their contributions they do not come within its provisions?
These dismissals at the age of 21 do not fulfil the requirements of the definition.
Is the Minister saying that if an employer has a particular practice it is now becoming a rule under the redundancy provisions?
If an employer wants to recoup himself from the redundancy fund for a dismissal which is not a dismissal within the definition he will not get it.
Is the Minister aware that under the early warning system the printing trade could be convulsed if something is not done about this?
As the House passed the Act these are forms of dismissal which would not be regarded as dismissals because of redundancy. I am having it studied because to me there is a strange appearance about it. This is only an opinion of mine. They can appeal.
If there is a policy decision that is for the birds.