Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1982

Vol. 337 No. 1

Written Answers. - Pigs and Bacon Commission.

461.

Mr. Quinn

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the difficulties that have been experienced by the Pigs and Bacon Commission; and if he is aware that talks are currently in progress with the Irish Farmers' Association and the Irish Bacon Curers' Society with a view to changing the operations, management and activities generally of the commission; if he will make a statement on the matter in particular regarding the future of those people currently employed by the commission; and his attitude generally to the role, powers and structures of the commission within Irish agriculture.

462.

Miss Flaherty

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will confirm that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9, who has been employed by the Pigs and Bacon Commission since 1967, will be given a guarantee of job security or at least a guarantee of service years, statutory pension rights and just redundancy in the event of a collapse, should he withdraw semi-State status from the commission.

463.

Mr. De Rossa

asked the Minister for Agriculture the guarantees he is offering to the staff of the Pigs and Bacon Commission relating to job security, service years and statutory pension rights following the privatisation for this agency from 31 July 1982.

464.

Mr. Shatter

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will clarify the position of all present employees of the Pigs and Bacon Commission and in particular state how the proposed changes in the operation of the commission will affect the pension and other rights which have accrued to its employees over the years.

Minister for Agriculture (Mr Lenihan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 to 464, inclusive, together.

The Government's decisions on the future of the Pigs and Bacon Commission were outlined in a press release issued on 30 March. These decisions had been arrived at after full consultation by me with the Irish Bacon Curers' Society, Irish Farmers' Association and the Pigs and Bacon Commission.

They provided for the taking over by the State of responsibility for a deficit of the Pigs and Bacon Commission (PBC) then amounting to £5.6 million, as well as the cost of some redundant staff and certain pension rights of a number of retired staff of the commission. The need for a restructuring of the present organisation arose from decisions of the European Court and the Irish Supreme Court which resulted in the PBC being no longer in a position to derive income from compulsory levies on bacon factories. Since 5 April all costs arising are the responsibility of the industry.

Discussions now taking place between the various interests concerned in the industry are directed primarily at establishing a new organisational structure which will replace the present PBC and enable the industry to continue centralised exporting arrangements under the control of and fully financed by the industry itself. These discussions will take full account of staff interests including their future employment but until the discussions have been concluded it is not possible to be more specific.