I beg to move Estimate No. 9. The sum in this case is £407,602 for National Health Insurance. Members need not be frightened at the reduction that has taken place in one item of £10,000 for pay on page 9—the Central Administration. This grant was to be for a particular purpose, which is now on hands, and there is no reason for putting in any sum this year in respect of that. It may be necessary to propose some legislation to deal with that. Such legislation has already been adopted in the English Parliament.
ESTIMATES. - NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE COMMISSION.
There is just one matter that I think it would be wise to call attention to, and that is with regard to the salaries and wages and allowances to the lower paid staffs. I recognise, of course, that these are pre-war rates, and they are what might be called basic wages, but in many cases they are of a kind that the State as an employer ought to be ashamed of, but I am not going out of my way to advocate the cause of men and women who are not prepared to advocate their own cause, or assist the general body of workers whether they are in Government employment or outside. But, as representing the employer in this matter I want to put in a demurrer against paying wages, such as:—writing assistants, 17s. to 34s. per week, as the pre-war scale porters 18s. to 24s. per week; coalporter, 18s. per week; superintendent charwoman, 18s. per week; charwomen, 13s. per week, and so on. It is not creditable to the State as an employer that such wages should be paid even at pre-war standard, with bonus allowance. I put in that objection in the hope that when these questions are being considered, as they will have to be, when the Saorstát is on its feet, as we may say, that that particular side of its responsibility will be considered.
The rates do not include the bonuses which are shown in the details of Sub-head A.
Motion made and question put: "That the Dáil in Committee having considered the Estimates for the National Health Insurance Commission in 1922-23, and having passed a Vote on account of £217,910 for the period to 6th December, 1922, recommend that the full Estimate of £407,602 for the Financial Year 1922-23, be adopted in due course by the Oireachtas."
Agreed.