asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that the practice has grown up whereby recreational and sporting organisations are undertaking diving work for commercial firms, thus depriving professional divers of their means of livelihood; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Commercial Diving Work.
51.
I am not so aware. Representatives of the professional divers have made no approaches to me in this matter.
Surely the Minister is aware that I personally was in contact not alone with his Department but with other Departments concerning a recent occurrence at Dún Laoghaire Harbour where members of the sporting or recreational body, the Sub-Aqua Club, undertook work normally undertaken by fulltime professional divers? Is it not extraordinary that he is not aware of this? Furthermore, does he condone this kind of thing? Does he agree with the situation in which men's employment may be taken from them in the name of sport and that they should be deprived of their livelihood in this fashion? Does he not think there is on him an obligation to make his position perfectly clear, that he believes in the principle of a man's livelihood not being interfered with in this way and that if there is work of this kind——
The Deputy is making a very long speech on this question.
I am only asking him a supplementary question in order to try to prise from his reluctant mind some views on this very important matter.
Of course, I would deplore a situation where the livelihood of any person was taken from him by a voluntary group or a sports group. None of us would have any sympathy with that type of situation, but I do not think there is anything I can do; there is so much voluntary work done by students and charitable organisations. The restoration of Kilmainham was done on a voluntary basis. This type of work is widespread.
They were no divers in Kilmainham.
I do not know of any effective rule I could make which would alter the situation the Deputy raises without interfering with very valuable voluntary work. All I can say is that I would deplore a situation where amateurs would take away the livelihood of professionals except in very occasional circumstances.
I know the Minister is as anxious as I am to ensure this abuse does not continue; but would he not consider something further is necessary, that he should examine the position with a view to seeing if any action is open to him to protect the livelihood of men such as these divers particularly? I would suggest, with all respect, that there is no comparison between the restoration of Kilmainham and the raising of a jib from Dún Laoghaire Harbour by a commercial firm.
I agree with that, but any rules must be generally applicable. However, I did, on receipt of notice of the question, make inquiries as to whether there might be any requirements of safety laws such as would prevent amateurs being employed instead of professionals, and there are no such requirements. There is no effective action I can take. All I can do is what I have done, deplore any situation where the livelihood of professional people is taken away by enthusiastic amateurs.
There is one final question.
We cannot discuss this one question all evening. There are 54 questions still to be answered.
I have every sympathy with the Chair. If it can be shown to the Minister that people who are employed by Government Departments, in other words, Army Officers, are engaged in this, surely there is an obvious line open to the Minister?
The Deputy will know how sensitive a Government must be to any charges of bringing force to bear on people like Army officers.
How many professional divers are there in the country, and what union organises them?
I am not quite sure. Perhaps it would have been appropriate for them to picket if they had a union. This is the usual method in a free democracy.
The Minister wants to encourage pickets?
I do not have to.
How many professional divers are there?
I do not know. I gather from Deputy Dunne there are two.
I did not say there were two — two in Dún Laoghaire, not in the country. There are other firms. In any case, I would ask the Minister to do his utmost to stop this abuse.