asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that a large number of cases under the Railways Act concerning claims for compensation to redundant employees of the railway company due to amalgamation, have been heard by the arbitrator in which no decision has been announced, that some of these cases were heard as far back as December last, and that some of the workmen were dismissed nearly two years ago; and whether he can take steps to ensure that the arbitrator's award will be made without further delay.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - REDUNDANT RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
I have no responsibility for and no control over these arbitration proceedings, but I understand that steps are being taken to dispose of the cases in which there was some unavoidable delay due to the necessity of appointing a new arbitrator.
Can the Minister say to whom representations are to be made by men who have not been able to secure a decision up to the present time?
To the arbitrator.
Can the Minister tell us whether the arbitrator appointed has now been transferred to a Circuit Court and is there engaged five days a week?
Application should be made in the first instance to the arbitrator or his staff if he has a staff. The judge who was appointed to be arbitrator was a Judge of the Circuit Court prior to his appointment as arbitrator.
Is the position now that there is no arbitrator?
Oh, no; there is an arbitrator.
A spare time one.