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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1976

Vol. 288 No. 10

Private Notice Question. - Food Processing Industry Redundancies.

asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of today's reports of 500 redundancies in a food processing industry in the south of Ireland; if he will state the reasons for this massive lay-off; and if he will intervene as a matter of urgency in an effort to postpone or cancel the redundancy notices.

I am aware that the industry concerned is having difficulties due to shortages of animals suitable for slaughtering and that these difficulties may lead to the lay-off of substantial numbers of workers for a period. However, the situation is under discussion between the industry concerned and the trade unions and it would be premature to anticipate the outcome of these discussions.

Would the Minister not agree that the main cause is the obviously incorrect policies operated in the agricultural sector? Further, will the Minister state if there is any hope that the figure of 500 can be reduced, and what steps he and his Department have taken to intervene in the situation? Will he tell us what is the actual position now?

The position is that the National Manpower Service in both areas are keeping in touch with the situation and there are meetings between the unions and the managements concerned. I suspect that in the general area of agricultural policy the Deputy may find himself somewhat astray. In the area of his brief in so far as it concerns him, discussions are going ahead between the management and the unions.

The Minister is giving a lecture.

The Minister cannot blame this on the big, bad world around us. It is his problem.

I understood Deputy Fitzgerald was spokesman for labour. I just said he had strayed into the area of agriculture.

I understood from the Minister's reply that he is blaming the redundancies on the shortage of animals. Does he agree with the figure given in the report of the Central Bank of a shortfall of 640,000 animals for this year, and does he envisage further redundancies because of this which is due to Government policy?

Some shortage of animals has been cited by management as the reason for the close down but the unions are not totally satisfied that this represents the entire story in at least one of the firms. The matter is under discussion between the unions and management and Deputies can be assured that the National Manpower Service are in touch with the situation.

From the Minister's reply, I gather he thinks I should not dabble in policies in the agricultural sector. Is he aware that 500 people are being laid off and that there are dangers of further lay-offs in the food processing industries throughout the country? As Minister for Labour he should be concerned about the effects on the livelihood of workers. Is he saying in typical ministerial fashion that it is not of his concern, that it is somebody else's business——

That it is somebody else's fault.

I have not said that. The leader of the Opposition should not let his mentality in dealing with problems be ascribed to members of this Government. That is his burden.

That is typical——

That is Lynch's burden. To answer the question raised by the Deputy——

(Interruptions.)

The Deputy's style of leadership is his responsibility.

We decide that, not the Minister.

The Minister should do his job——

(Interruptions.)

Order. Members of this House should be referred to in a respectful fashion and in accordance with their position. I will allow a final supplementary question.

Has the Minister or any agency of his Department investigated the consequences for the economy and the monthly cost to the economy of the redundancy payments and the unemployment benefits that will have to be made when the 500 jobs are lost? Will he state how much it will cost per month while they are unemployed, in addition to the payout from the Exchequer?

The Deputy is raising other matters.

They are relevant.

Redundancy does not arise here with any certainty as yet. All we know is that lay-offs have been suggested by the managements in both concerns, that discussions are going ahead between unions and managements and that the National Manpower Service in both areas are in touch with the situation. The Deputy can be assured this matter will be given full attention.

The Minister has directed his attention at me for some reason, whether good or bad. Did I gather from what he said in reply to a previous question that he is now blaming the management of the company involved for the lay-offs and that he is not attributing any blame to the Government?

What I said was that I understood from the union sources that they are having discussions with management. The position is not at all clear as yet whether in one of the factories concerned the shortage of animals explains fully the lay-offs. That is the point I was making.

Did the Minister make an allegation against the management——

I am not making an allegation against anyone——

Did he not say that the management are at fault?

In my reply I said discussions were still going on.

This is one of the reasons why we should be cautious in making any comments at this stage. My reply closely related to the difficulties that exist at present and where discussions are still proceeding between managements and unions.

Did the Minister say——

Will the Deputy please allow us to make some progress?

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