asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the danger of specialised mine workers recently disemployed at Glendalough and Avoca now emigrating; and whether his Department have any proposals to deal with the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disemployment of Mine Workers.
I am satisfied that the operations at Avoca are proceeding in accordance with the terms of the State mining lease.
As regards the operations at Glendalough, these have been carried on by a private company, which is not operating on a State lease. I do not know whether the cessation of operations there is temporary or permanent and I have not been approached by anybody connected with the under-taking.
My question is whether the Minister has made any arrangements to employ those who have been disemployed. I can inform the Minister that there are approximately 30 people disemployed as a result of the closing of the Glendalough mine.
I have no information about the Glendalough mine except the statement that appeared in the newspapers. It is a private company about which the Deputy has more information than I have, and the people concerned certainly have not approached me.
I am telling the Minister that there are 30 people disemployed as a result of the mine closing. Could he indicate what he has proposed for creating employment in the district?
If the Deputy is referring to employment in the district rather than operations in the mine, then I would require to have notice of that. I assumed he was inquiring as to whether there was anything I could do to secure the continuation of the mining operations.
I am sorry to intervene again, but the question is that miners are being disemployed and there is the risk of these miners, who are skilled personnel, emigrating. Is there anything the Minister can do about that? That is the question, but it is still unanswered.
The statement that appeared in the newspapers was to the effect that they had ceased operations pending some analysis of what had been mined. Whether that is the explanation of the cessation of operations, I do not know, but that is the only knowledge or reason I have for the cessation.
Surely when I put down a question to the Minister it is common courtesy for him to answer it?
Mr. Lemass
May I make it quite clear that if I make inquiries from this company the information I receive will not be available to the Dáil? This is a private company operating a private mining right and they are entitled to be protected against the publicising of their affairs.
I do not want the Minister to discuss the private affairs of a company. All I want him to do is to ensure that skilled personnel does not emigrate from this country.