asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if there is any obligation on Bord Iascaigh Mhara to compensate employees who suffer loss as a result of their transfer to another part of the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord Iascaigh Mhara Employees.
17.
The Board pays to transferred officers their cost of travelling to the new centre and subsistence allowance there for a reasonable period depending on the circumstances to enable them to obtain suitable living accommodation. In addition, in the case of each married officer the Board defrays the actual removal expenses of the family and the household effects. The Board is under no other obligation.
Could the Minister say why, in the case of a person transferred from Dingle to Dublin, who had started to build a house, got no promotion and no compensation, this scheme was not operated?
My information from Bord Iascaigh Mhara is that in the past three years seven transfers took place. There were three cases in the past 12 months, two in the previous year and two in the year before that, and the method of compensation which I have outlined in my reply was applied in all these seven cases. No claim was made for additional compensation nor is there any claim for such under consideration.
This man was transferred from Dingle to Dublin and had started to build a house because he was going to get married. He was transferred in order to provide a job for the secretary of a Fianna Fáil Cumann in Turner's Cross in the Taoiseach's constituency, and for no other reason. Now he is threatened with another transfer to Killybegs and I would not wish that on him.
I will have to look into this transfer to Killybegs because this might well displace a Fianna Fáil Cumann secretary.
You are right, but you can promote him.
My thanks to the Opposition for all this information. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara effected these transfers and I had no hand, act or part in them or knowledge of them. If the allegation the Deputy makes is true I am unaware of any substance in it. On the other hand, if he can show that something has been done that should not have been done or done for the wrong reason, certainly as Minister responsible to some degree for An Bord Iascaigh Mhara I will have it investigated.
If they give the Minister the details?
Sure.
I am giving it exactly as I got it.