asked the Minister for Labour if, in view of the fact that the redundancies as a result of the closing of the CWS bacon factory, Tralee, County Kerry took place on 15th January 1971, a week before the increased redundancy rates came into operation, he will consider giving the people concerned the benefit of the increased redundancy rate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Redundancy Payments.
25.
I have had the position of the employees concerned examined as sympathetically as possible.
The notices of proposed dismissal which were issued to the employees under the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967, specified 15th January, 1971, as their date of dismissal and their employment terminated on that date. The Redundancy Payments Act, 1971 which came into operation on 1st September, 1971, provides for payment of certain improved benefits retrospectively to persons dismissed on or after 22nd January, 1971, the date on which the text of the amending legislation was published. I am not empowered to apply the retrospective provisions to persons whose employment terminated on redundancy before that date.
Would the Minister agree that an amendment put in by the Labour Party for the purpose of having it pre-dated before 15th January was voted down by the Government with the help of Deputy McEllistrim?
The Deputy was well aware that making it retrospective to January went far towards meeting the situation.