asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has received from the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union, on behalf of the employees serving in the Irish Lights Service as seamen, firemen, cooks, stewards and lightshipkeepers, claims for improved service and rates of pay consequent on such conditions and rates of pay having been granted to the employees of the Trinity House and Scottish Lights Services; whether the British Board of Trade, who will pay the increases, have asked that sanction be given to grant those conditions and rates of pay, and whether he is aware of the growing discontent in the service consequent on the delay in the claims being granted, and if he will state whether a decision has been come to in the matter; further, if it is a fact that the representatives of the employees on March 28th, 1925, asked the Minister to receive them in deputation, and that no reply has been given to that request.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IRISH LIGHTS—CLAIMS FOR IMPROVED SERVICE AND PAY.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that by a decision of the Industrial Arbitration Court (British) on May 25th, 1925, the Trinity House and Scottish Lighthouse Keepers obtained 6d. per diem increase on their basic wage, and that the above increase would have been paid as such to the Irish Keepers instead of by way of a non-pensionable "Gratuity" but for the intervention of the Saorstát authorities; whether he is further aware that there is now much and growing discontent in the Lighthouse Service by reason of the action of the Saorstát authorities; whether in view of the fact that the Lighthouse Service is still maintained from British funds, the opposition to the Board of Trade and the Commissioners of Irish Lights granting the Irish Keepers the same conditions of the Industrial Court Award as were granted to the Trinity House and Scottish Keepers will be withdrawn and thus allay the discontent manifesting itself in the Service.
These two questions should have been addressed to my Department. The matters referred to in both Questions regarding employees in the Irish Lights Service are at the moment under investigation in my Department. I am not in a position to give a definite reply on the points involved to-day, but will do so on Tuesday next, if the Deputy will repeat the questions for that day.
I will give notice, in the name of Deputy Byrne, to have both Questions repeated on Tuesday.