asked the Taoiseach the number of unemployed registered on the last date for which returns were available from offices at Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry, Portlaoise, Portarlington, Athy, Rathdowney and Carlow; and if he will give corresponding figures for each of these offices for 1969 on the same date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Figures.
5.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the number of persons on the live register at the specified local employment offices on the 4th December, 1970, together with figures for the corresponding date in 1969. Following is the statement:—
NUMBER of persons on the Live Register at the specified Local Employment Offices on the 4th December, 1970, together with figures for the corresponding date in 1969.
|
Local Office |
5th Decem- 1969 |
4th December 1970 |
|
Tullamore |
403 |
336 |
|
Birr |
358 |
358 |
|
Edenderry |
255 |
227 |
|
Portlaoise |
311 |
350 |
|
Portarlington |
172 |
260 |
|
Athy |
120 |
191 |
|
Rathdowney |
108 |
118 |
|
Carlow |
227 |
234 |
Would the Parliamentary Secretary be able to state whether the figures are showing an upward trend and what steps the Government are taking to provide industries in the various towns mentioned in conjunction with these figures? We find that in one of the towns mentioned, Tullamore, the major industry is Salts (Ireland), Limited, where most of the staff have been on short time.
That is a separate matter. The question relates to the number of registered unemployed.
People have been on three days' work per week up to recently. Mountmellick Textiles, Limited, have been closed——
Will the Deputy cease making his usual speech at Question Time?
(Interruptions.)
Deputies
Chair, Chair.
Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state what industries——
The Deputy must resume his seat.
I wonder would the Deputy repeat the question?
The Deputy may not abuse the privileges of the House in that fashion. It is a matter for the Chair to allow the Deputy to repeat the question and the Chair is not allowing the Deputy to do so.
I think the Parliamentary Secretary is trying to be smart.
(Interruptions.)
Is the Parliamentary Secretary going to answer?
If the Parliamentary Secretary wants the question repeated I will certainly repeat it.
Will the Deputy please resume his seat? He should not act in this manner.
The Deputy was asking a supplementary question.
The question has been asked and I understand the figures have been given, all that was asked in the question.
This is an important and urgent matter. There are three thousand people involved in each county——
Will the Deputy please resume his seat? I shall not oblige the Deputy by asking him to leave the House.
On the last occasion when I got unfair treatment from you, Sir, I left the House in protest. I have no intention of being put out of the House by you, but I say this——
Deputies
Chair, chair.
It is easy to shout "Chair" when you are getting a fair deal——
I am calling Question No. 6.