asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that a female employee of a county committee of agriculture can be paid a substantial gratuity on marriage and still continue to work under his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Committee of Agriculture Employee.
9.
I am aware that a female employee of a county committee of agriculture can obtain a gratuity on marriage and subsequently through the Local Appointments Commission secure another post with a county committee. The period in respect of which she had received the gratuity could not however be reckoned more than once for pension purposes. The matter is governed by the provisions of sections 10 and 22 of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956, and is not one in which I have any function.
Would the Minister accept that this gratuity was only intended for those who were retiring on marriage and that as it operates at the moment it is an incentive to employees in one county to change to another county, being reimbursed for doing so, and the county that must reimburse them is the one that suffers by their departure? Would the Minister initiate inquiries into the case where a former employee of County Kildare County Committee of Agriculture indicated to the committee that she was retiring on marriage, got a golden handshake through this loophole and was in a position to take up employment on the very next day with Carlow County Committee of Agriculture? Does he not feel there is something very wrong here?
It is hardly fair to describe it as a golden handshake. This woman, in common with others, subscribed 5 per cent of her salary for this gratuity on marriage. She got that and she cannot get it twice. She is eligible as a married person to apply for any job that comes up. She applied for one in Carlow and got it. Anything that was done was done perfectly within the law.
Is the Minister happy that the law should be allowed to function in this way?
It is a law that was made in the Deputy's Government's time.
We should look forward rather than look back. Is the Minister happy that the rules that must be implemented by him as Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries are adequate to cope with this situation?
The Deputy is raising another matter.
There is nothing at all wrong about this situation.
I am glad to hear that.
The Minister said the law was passed when Fianna Fáil were in office. That is quite true, but the situation was different. At that time a gratuity was paid to a person who was leaving to get married. Now she can stay on after marriage. It is a temptation for a person to retire, get the gratuity and immediately get other employment. That could not happen before. The circumstances are different altogether.
A question, Deputy, please.
I am asking the Minister if today's circumstances are not different from those obtaining when the previous legislation was passed?
As I said, I have no functions here. It is not within the functional area of the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Is the Minister happy about that?
There is no point in saying I am happy or not.
Is the Minister saying that it is not his function but it was the function of Fianna Fáil when they were in office?
No.
The Minister has been in office for three years and he should accept responsibility——
It is a local government matter, not one for the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
But the Minister said it was the function of Fianna Fáil when they were in office.
Order, Deputy MacSharry, please. Deputy Power.
Did the Minister say it was a local government matter?
Yes.
(Interruptions.)