Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Manpower Service. – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil) – Thursday, 24 Apr 1975

Mr. G. Fitzgerald

asked the Minister for Labour if it is the policy of the National Manpower Service to recruit staff from this country for EEC country who wishes to recruit workers in another member state is entitled to seek the assistance of the national employment service in that State; he may do this directly or through the employment service of his own country. The National Manpower Service have from time to time been asked to assist in the recruitment of workers for jobs in other EEC countries and they have done so.

Firms in EEC countries are free to recruit workers here by direct advertising or other means but I prefer to see them use the manpower service because the service is in a position to assess the conditions of employment attaching to the jobs offered and to advise the applicants on such matters as living and working conditions, housing and taxation in the country concerned. Also, if particular categories of workers are in short supply in Ireland, foreign firms wishing to recruit such workers can be advised of the difficulties involved.

Mr. Cunningham

The Minister had better not tell them about taxation in Ireland.

Mr. G. Fitzgerald

Is there any difference in relation to a foreign firm or an English firm recruiting through the National Manpower Service in regard to fees?

Mr. M. O'Leary

We do not charge fees. There is no bar against an English firm using our service nor is there any bar against an Irish firm using their service.

Mr. G. Fitzgerald

What about the insertion of advertisement for foreign based firms?

Mr. M. O'Leary

The foreign firm would obviously have to pay for the cost of advertisements. I said there was no fee charged.

Mr. G. Fitzgerald

What about the Irish firms?

Mr. M. O'Leary

The same rule would hold.

Mr. G. Fitzgerald

In other words, do the same facilities apply to the foreign firms as those that apply to the Irish firm?

Mr. M. O'Leary

Yes.

Mr. G. Fitzgerald

Does the Minister feel there should be some difference in the approach of the National Manpower Service to firms in such a situation?

Mr. M. O'Leary

I do not think there is any difference because one of the requirements of the Community, which we signed under the Treaty of Rome, is the free movement of workers. That is the objective under the Treaty. Obviously, what we should be seeking is co-operation between the national manpower services of the various member countries, ensuring that we understand the conditions of their labour markets, that they understand the condition of ours and that in co-operation with them, we may, when our economy is at a high pitch seek more skilled workers and when our economy is on a downturn we may discourage the coming into the country of skilled workers.

Mr. G. Fitzgerald

I am more concerned about the export of unskilled workers or encouraging them to leave. While accepting what the Minister says about the free movement of workers is he satisfied that it is correct policy for the National Manpower Service to encourage the export of unskilled labour to other countries?

Mr. M. O'Leary

There were complaints some years ago about conditions of girl workers who were working in hotels in Denmark. I encouraged, at that time, Irish workers, who may have been thinking of working in the European mainland countries, to go to the National Manpower Service. There at least we may ensure a check on the conditions of work in the places they are going to. On the occasion I referred to they had not gone through the National Manpower Service and they landed up in very poor conditions. I again say there is a role for the National Manpower Service here, in co-operation with the national manpower services of the other countries.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Apr 1975