asked the Minister for the Public Service if, in view of the present unemployment situation, he will ensure that no obstacle will be put in the way of Government Departments and offices that wish to take on temporary staff during the summer months; and if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Temporary Staff.
75.
A number of Departments traditionally require additional temporary staff during the summer months because of a seasonal increase in work. The Deputy may take it that the traditional arrangements will continue to apply this year. There will be no reduction in the numbers that were employed during the summer of 1974 unless the volume of extra work in a particular area has decreased.
Could the Minister state when these vacancies will occur and when will people be taken on?
They will be taken on at the usual time and in the usual way. For instance, already some temporary clerical assistants have begun work in the Department of Foreign Affairs and in the Department of Health. They are notified in the ordinary way and it is not possible to give any specific details as to when any particular office may or may not be looking for staff.
Do I take it these posts are advertised in the daily papers?
Yes. They must be advertised or, in certain cases, personnel may be taken from the employment exchange. There is no preference and no private system of recruitment.
Could the Minister give us any indication of the number employed in a temporary capacity in 1974?
I do not have any figures before me.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Just one further supplementary.
When the Chair makes a definite pronouncement the Deputy should not go against the Chair. I am now calling the next business—No. 11, Capital Gains Tax Bill, in Committee.
May I ask the Minister if these vacancies——
I ended Question Time, Deputy, and I am now calling the next business.
——will be filled from the National Manpower Service?
I have called the end of Question Time twice. I am calling the next business—Capital Gains Tax Bill, Committee Stage, resumed.
On the Order of Business this morning, I submitted to you a request, with your permission, to raise the subject matter of Question No. 42 of 10th April regarding the plight of school leavers and the dismal future that faces them——
This is not in order.
——this particular year and I now understand that raising that question on the Adjournment has been disallowed.
This is so.
Could I ask you if, realising the urgency of the situation and the plight of the school leavers—we will have approximately more than 50,000 within a month——
Deputy Fitzgerald knows full well he may not challenge the ruling of the Chair in this fashion.
I am not challenging it.
I have indicated to the Deputy the reason why his question was not allowed and he must not raise the matter in this way now.
I am asking for guidance.
The Deputy must not persist in this attitude and he must not draw the Chair into debate.
I am asking for guidance: how otherwise can I raise this?
I have already informed the Deputy that the matter is so large in scope it merits a substantive motion; it would not be in order on a half hour Adjournment debate.
In other words, are you saying the position is so critical it would need a special motion?
I am calling the next business—Capital Gains Tax Bill, in Committee.
Sir, you ruled out of order a question of mine about the new souvenir booklet. I put the question to the Minister for Finance. I know his Department are engaged in photographing, editing and preparing material for this book which will be available in a few months. I would like to know why the Minister for Finance has no responsibility in the matter and should I have asked the question of some other Minister?
I can give the Deputy no explanation about the matter in the House. He knows it is not in order to challenge my ruling in this fashion.
It is not a question of challenging a ruling. I also had disallowed a question regarding certain overseas environmental——
Deputy Lemass may not proceed in this fashion.
I understand the Minister for Finance has to sanction any such expedition and that is why I am asking why it is out of order.
I have called the next business—Capital Gains Tax Bill, in Committee, Deputy O'Malley on section 40.
I would also like to submit to the Minister for Finance——
The Deputy is being disorderly.
We will have a special stamp for European Architectural Heritage Year. I do not know how you ruled that out, but that is beside the point. You did rule it out.