asked the Minister for Lands whether, arising out of the dismissal of Mr. Thomas Whelan, forestry worker, of Graiguenamanagh, a member of the Federation of Rural Workers, he is aware (1) that it was made a condition of his reinstatement, in negotiations with the Federation, that he should apologise to the local forester; (2) that when the workers took strike action last January in support of their dismissed colleague, the Department of Lands refused to negotiate with the Federation, which represented the majority of the workers, until a resumption of work should take place; (3) that following the intervention of another trade union, which represented a minority of the workers the Department opened negotiations with that union without any reference to the Federation, and (4) that in the negotiations with this union, the demand for an apology from Mr. Whelan, as a condition of his reinstatement was waived, and the strike subsequently settled and the worker reinstated; and whether, as the above represents an attitude on the part of his Department to refuse to negotiate with a recognised trade union, he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissal of Forestry Worker.
I stated in the Dáil on the 2nd November, 1949, that I was prepared to have Thomas Whelan reinstated in his employment at Graiguenamanagh Forest if he made peace with the forester. It was reported to me afterwards that Mr. Whelan was not prepared to do so. In January the labourers at the forest went on strike in support of Mr. Whelan. The labourers who were on strike resumed work after some weeks and at a later date Mr. Whelan was reinstated after he had apologised to the forester.
My Department did not engage in negotiations in the matter with any trade union while the labourers were on strike.
Is the Minister aware that I have here a statement signed by the representative of the men which says very definitely that there was no apology made by the worker in question and that this matter was settled by an outside organisation which did not, in fact, represent the men?
That is not true. That is not my information. The man came along and made his apology, as he was asked to do, when the Deputy raised this matter in the House last November and which, in my opinion, he should have done.
Will the Minister agree to provide me with proof that that actually occurred and that the circumstances are as he has stated?
I am telling the Deputy exactly what happened.
Can I have the Minister's permission to inspect any document or minutes he may have in his Department relating to this matter?
No.
With your permission, I would like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.