asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state how many of the shops employees of the Great Southern Railways Company have had their services dispensed with since amalgamation took place, and to how many has compensation been paid in accordance with the provisions of the Railways Act, 1924.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RAILWAY SHOPS EMPLOYEES IN SAORSTÁT.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state the total number of shops grades employed by the Great Southern Railways Company, the number of those working short time, the period during which this short time has operated, the number of days per week the men work, and the total saving in wages effected as a result.
I propose to reply to these two questions together. The information required is not in my possession, but in that of the Railway Company, to which all similar inquiries should be addressed.
Is it not a fact that the Minister is obliged, under the Transport Act of 1919, and also under previous Railway Acts, to furnish a return yearly showing the number of employes of different grades, their average salaries, and rates of pay? Is the Minister aware that that return was due on the 31st March last? As far as I understand, the return giving that information has not yet been prepared or published. Information regarding the Northern railways and British railways was published six or seven months ago. Can the Minister tell us why the usual information contained in the return I have referred to is not yet available?
If the Deputy had put me a question about not carrying out something in a Transport Act, I would have answered it; but there is nothing of that sort in those questions.
I am asking for information which should be supplied in the ordinary way according to law——
According to your interpretation of the law.
Am I not stating the facts?
I will have to make further inquiries.
The Deputy, perhaps, will put down another question. We now come to question 9.
I answered Questions 8 and 9 together.
They were hardly answered at all.
They were hardly the questions the Deputy intended to ask.