asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the number of persons dismissed by Córas Iompair Éireann in the past twelve months (a) who are entitled to redundancy compensation and (b) who are not so entitled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissals by Córas Iompair Éireann.
47.
Redundancy compensation is confined to (i) permanent employees of C.I.E. and (ii) to temporary employees with not less than three years' service.
The number of such persons dismissed by C.I.E. in the past twelve months is 449.
The number of persons, dismissed by C.I.E. due to redundancy in that period and who did not qualify for redundancy compensation, is 91. This figure does not include short service temporary employees who though not directly redundant were laid off in order to provide vacancies for redundant employees who would otherwise have been retired on compensation.
Would the Minister ensure that tradesmen who should be declared redundant are not put into labourers' positions for the purpose of having them declared as nonredundant?
I have not heard of such cases.
I did not hear the Minister.
No complaints have been made in regard to such matters.
The trade unions will look after that.
They are not doing it.
They do.
48.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that 170 men have been dismissed from their employment by Córas Iompair Éireann without being given any assurance as to the final amounts for which they will be eligible as compensation, or without any indication as to when such compensation will in fact be paid; and whether the Company have considered holding the dismissed men in employment until a final settlement has been made in these matters.
The administration of the compensation provisions of the Transport Acts is a matter for the Board of C.I.E. and my only statutory function in relation to the payment of redundancy compensation is in connection with the recoupment by the Exchequer to C.I.E. of the amounts paid by them.
I have nevertheless made enquiries of C.I.E. and I have been informed that wages grade staff to be dismissed owing to redundancy are given the usual one week's notice of dismissal and are informed at the same time of the amount of compensation which will be paid to them. Payment of redundancy compensation, subject to any final adjustment, normally commences not later than a fortnight from the date of notice of dismissal.
In cases where the compensation award is appealed to the arbitrator or cannot be finalised for some other reason compensation, as initially determined by C.I.E., is paid pending final settlement.
Without raising the merits of this question, is it not carrying the thing a little far for the Minister for Transport and Power to say that he is not responsible for the enforcement of a statute of this House? If Córas Iompair Éireann is under a statutory duty to pay compensation on certain conditions under a statute of this House, surely the Minister for Transport and Power has an obligation, where queried about it or where invoked, to see that effect is given to the provisions of the statute?
If it came to my notice that the statutory provisions were not being adhered to or if there was any gross scandal of any kind. If the management of C.I.E. or the trades union were not able together to work out on a reasonably satisfactory basis the terms of compensation or the working out of it, naturally, it would come to my attention.
I want to make it clear that as far as my experience goes C.I.E. has acted reasonably in regard to the matters raised in this question. I merely raised the question arising out of the Minister's reply, as I thought it went a little beyond what he intended to say.
49.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the average age of the men dismissed by Córas Iompair Éireann following the recent redundancy decision of the Company.
The selection of employees to be discharged on grounds of redundancy is entirely a matter for the Board of C.I.E. It is open to the Deputy to make enquiries of C.I.E. in the matter.
When the Transport Bill was going through the House was it not the general understanding that where possible, older men would be let go on generous compensation thus allowing the younger men to be absorbed into employment in the jobs for which they qualified under the new dieselisation policy? Where so many young people have been dismissed would it not be incumbent on the Minister to point out to the management of C.I.E. that they have not used these powers we vested in them to compensate generously the older men and release them, thereby providing more jobs for the younger people who are there?
Quite a number of young married people with children have been dismissed after eight or nine years' service and the Minister could use his good offices to ensure these people will continue their employment and that older men——
The Deputy should put his question.
May I ask the Minister for Transport and Power—I do not know whether he has the power or not; he says he has no power to do anything—to use his influence with the company so that they will release the older men with generous compensation and leave the young married men where they are?