asked the Minister for Labour what steps he has taken to advise State Departments, semi-State bodies and local authorities who normally employ seasonal labour that workers who are normally employed by them should be offered employment this year before new employees are recruited; and if he will ensure that the usual seasonal workers will not be excluded from benefit under the Redundancy Payments Act because of failure to re-employ them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seasonal Workers.
35.
: I have no powers or functions in relation to the method of selection of employees generally by State Departments, semi-State bodies or local authorities and accordingly, I have taken no action along the lines mentioned in the first part of the Deputy's question. I do not accept the implication in the second part of the question that the authorities mentioned are deliberately attempting to avoid their obligations under the Redundancy Payments Act by not re-employing former seasonal workers and, in the circumstances, I do not consider that special action on my part is called for concerning the normal operation of that Act.
: Would the Minister not agree that it seems to be rather a coincidence that all long service employees who, if re-employed this year would come under the terms of the Redundancy Payments Act, have not been re-employed this year? Does he not consider it a coincidence that this is happening on a large scale in at least one of the semi-State bodies?
: I should be very surprised if anybody would behave in this way. If the Deputy can give particular instances, I shall investigate them.
: Yes, I will do that.
: Would the Minister ensure that the students who are normally employed to carry out the Noxious Weeds Act in the summer-time will not be all Donegal men this year as they were last year?