andDr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Labour why work permits were issued to a company (name supplied) without prior consultation with the union concerned (name supplied).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Work Permits.
24.
Work permits were issued to the company concerned in respect of crew members specially trained for the technical operation of a new type of dredger. I had information that Irish nationals with the special technical skills required for these jobs were not available and it was not necessary for me to consult the trade union movement. All other jobs involved in the contract are being done by Irish workers.
Would the Minister not agree that he departed from the standard procedure when he did this?
It is true that we usually consult with Congress before any permit is given but in this case prior experience indicated it would be an unnecessary function.
Surely the Minister could not presume that? Would it not have been the right thing to do to consult and the matter would have been dealt with very quickly? This meant a break in precedent which had been established over a long period.
I understand this referred to the employment on a modern new type of suction dredger from Belgium and the crew was part of the technical operation. It was a trained crew.
That is what foreign companies would have us believe about everything. The Minister is aware of this.