asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why five men who were working as temporary labourers at Monaghan head office were laid off work and others employed in their place, some of whom left other employment to take the places of the men laid off.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Monaghan Post Office Labourers.
9.
Seven temporary labourers were laid off in Monaghan at the beginning of August, 1967, when the need for their services ceased. When more temporary labouring work became available in September, the employment exchange was approached in accordance with normal practice for nominations. Of 13 men nominated, one did not attend for interview; seven of the remaining 12 were selected locally as the most suitable for the work and they were taken on as from 25th September. One left after a few days and the next most suitable candidate nominated by the exchange was employed. Three of the men who had been laid off in August were re-employed; the four who were not re-employed were regarded as less suitable for the work than the men selected.
I understand that some of the men taken on in September were in other employment before being taken on as temporary labourers. The fact that a man is in employment is not a barrier to his employment as temporary labourer provided he is nominated for the work by the local employment exchange.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply—I use this language reluctantly out of a sense of protest—is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the procedure in this case was both corrupt and illegal inasmuch as at least two of the men employed, whose names were allegedly submitted to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, were both in insurable employment up to the Saturday before the Monday on which the Department of Posts and Telegraphs say they employed them as a result of their being recommended for employment by the local labour exchange?
The Deputy describes this as corrupt. I explained in my reply that all people who were taken on were nominated by the local employment exchange and, as I also stated in my reply, the fact that a man is in employment is not a barrier to his employment in the Post Office.
How can a man be registered as unemployed if he is working?
That is a matter for the Department of Labour. He registers in the employment exchange.
How could he?
(Interruptions.)
Let him tie himself into knots. I will pull the rope. I know the facts in this case.
I have a pretty good idea of the facts also.
Yes?
The point is that the fact that a man is in employment is not a barrier to his employment as a temporary labourer, provided he is nominated by the employment exchange, and all of these people were nominated by the employment exchange.
I want to ask a simple question. Here are five men——
Seven.
I am talking of five: here are five men put out of work because their jobs came to an end. The work recurred and the employment of labour became necessary again. These men applied to be re-employed. Some of them were taken back; some of them were not. Then they were told that at least two—in fact, there were three or four—replaced them because the Department of Posts and Telegraphs had chosen them from a list of names submitted by the employment exchange in Monaghan as suitable persons. Is there any Deputy who does not believe that the function of the employment exchange is to submit to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs a list of unemployed persons seeking work? I assert that two of these men left employment; I can name the firm in which they were working and I can name the men.
The Deputy is now making a speech.
Very well; if I am making a speech, I give you notice now that I am raising this matter on the Adjournment tonight and I will then make a speech that will surprise you. I will raise it on the Adjournment for this is the first time I have ever caught this kind of conduct, flagrante delicto.