asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether officers and men who served with Irish Shipping, Limited, during the emergency are entitled, when being considered for positions under the Government and under harbour authorities, to have such service taken into account for the purpose of having added years of service credited to them or to other forms of priority; and if not, whether he will state on what grounds their service is distinguished, to their detriment, from that of officers and men who served in the Marine Service during the emergency.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Service of Irish Seamen
Mr. Corish
Certain concessions in the filling of posts in the service of the State and of local authorities and harbour authorities have been granted to men on demobilisation from the Defence Forces as a means of assisting them to civilian employment. More limited concessions have been made to men who were in the Auxiliary Defence Services who gave their time voluntarily during the emergency. Concessions of this type have not been granted to officers and men who served with Irish Shipping, Limited. or otherwise with the merchant marine during the emergency. These men performed a valuable duty in hazardous conditions but the majority of them were already in seafaring occupations and the opportunity for continuing employment in the calling of their choice has been improved by the wartime development of the Irish merchant marine.