asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the strike of 34 artificial inseminators in Castleisland cattle breeding centre, County Kerry; and how many years service an inseminator must have with the Dairy Disposal Company before he is entitled to be made permanent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry AI Station Strike.
3.
The employment of inseminators, provided, of course, that they are suitably qualified, is entirely a matter for the artificial insemination stations. I have no function in the day to day operations of the Castleisland or other AI stations.
Since this is a matter of very serious concern to a large number of farmers in the area, I am sure the Minister will agree to use his influence to see that conditions in this station compare with conditions in the other stations and that men will not be employed for 14 years on a temporary basis without being made permanent? Does the Minister not agree that that is not as it should be and is the basis of the whole difficulty there?
The matter is not just as simple as all that. These inseminators, particularly in the south, are needed much more at certain parts of the year than at others. How it can be accomplished that those who have served for any given number of years will be full time is a matter beyond my comprehension and my jurisdiction. I do not see how this can be worked out. If it can be, I will certainly be delighted to see it done. It is not an easy matter to work out.
Will the Minister agree that what the people in this station are looking for is what is, in fact, being operated in other inseminating stations in the south of Ireland, Clarecastle, for instance, being one?
The Deputy will agree that, without going into specific cases, there must always be a greater number of inseminators required at certain times of the year than at others.
I agree with that.
It is a question as to whether they could be on a permanent basis or on a retained basis, or on what basis.
I think they are looking for ten months work and that is regarded by them as permanent and is what obtains in the other stations.
There is not a ten months peak in this business.
Could the Minister say if they are members of a trade union? That is how the others have got their conditions.
I do not really know what these people are members of. I am sure Deputy Tully is not asking the question without knowing the answer.
Would the Minister not agree that it is most unfair to expect any body of men to remain as casuals for 14 years? If the Minister says there is not ten months work, does he expect them to roll up like hedgehogs in the hedges for three or four months and come out again when they are needed? Does he not appreciate that they must be paid the whole year round if they are needed for ten months?
I did not say anything of the sort. I pointed out the difficulty of giving permanent employment to people for whom there is no work.
If they are needed for nine months, you must pay them for the 12.
Would the Minister not agree that State and semi-State bodies should set a high standard as regards favourable employment for people in this country? Many of the strikes, unfortunately, originate in semi-State organisations.
I am calling Question No. 4.
They are not giving favourable employment.
It does not arise.
It does, of course, arise.