asked the Minister for Labour if he has received any notice of impending redundancies in Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes Ltd.; and the steps he is taking to safeguard the jobs in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Irish Hospital Sweepstakes .
20.
: No such notice has been received recently by my Department. I believe that the firm laid off temporarily a number of workers for a limited period and that these resumed work after a few weeks.
: In relation to his qualification of "recently", could the Minister tell me what was the last occasion on which notice was given to his Department of the number of employees who did lose their jobs and whether they were taken back on again?
: No recent notices were given to my Department regarding redundancies but I understand from inquiries made that in August a number of workers were laid off for approximately a two-week period and taken back in September. As the Deputy is aware, that is outside the Protection of Employment Act.
: The Minister may not have heard my supplementary question correctly. I asked him what was the last occasion on which notification of redundancies in that firm was given to his Department of people who were not subsequently re-employed.
: I took it that the Deputy was talking of recent events. The answer is 1 March 1980.
: What was the number of people involved?
: Notice of impending redundancies was given on 1 March but I do not have any information to say that the redundancies occurred. Consultations and discussion took place between representatives of the employees and the company but I do not have any information to say that there were redundancies. I take it that there were not, but I will check that for the Deputy and let him know.
: Is the Minister satisfied that the employers concerned are operating their business in the best interests of maintaining and increasing employment in it?
: I cannot offer the Deputy an opinion on that. I would express concern at any temporary lay-offs such as the one referred to earlier. As the Deputy knows, these do not come within the cover of the Protection of Employment Act. But as to whether the company are carrying on their business satisfactorily, I would not be in a position to comment on that.