asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will have the findings of the Railway Wages Board examined with a view to recommending the non-reduction in the wages of the lower grades; and further, if he will state that in the promised Transport Bill a clause will be inserted to protect the lower grades from being reduced to a wage below minimum living rates.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Transport Bill and Railway Workers.
Section 55 of the Railways Act, 1924, provides that the wages and conditions of service of railway employees shall be regulated in accordance with agreements made between the trades unions representative of such employees and the railway companies. The Railway Wages Board derives its authority from such an agreement. I am not aware of any more appropriate statutory provision for dealing with railway wages questions nor of any better machinery for examining such questions and making recommendations upon them.
I have already stated in reply to a previous question that the award of the Wages Board does not involve any reduction in the wages of the operative classes of railway employees receiving 40/- per week or less.
Will the Minister ask Deputy Briscoe to remove the mask from his innocent-looking face and to state in pounds, shillings and pence what he considers to be the minimum wage?
What does he consider the living wage?
Someone has to represent them.
I am sorry for putting the question to the Minister. I stepped very heavily on Deputy Davin's shoes this evening.
Is that a question?
Is the Minister satisfied that in the lower grades the reduction does not bring them below £2?
What is the minimum living wage?
£1,000 a year for members of the Labour Party.
£1 a week for Republican Lemass.
This is a unique situation for the Minister. Deputy Briscoe is entitled to ask a supplementary question and I propose to let him.
Ask Deputy Harris to explain to the Kildare railway men.
Deputy Harris will talk to you later on.
You represent the blackleg railway men.
What about the £1,000 a year blackleg on your own benches and the scabs?
Will the war minister keep quiet.
Is the Minister absolutely satisfied that the reduction in the lower grade workers will not in any event bring them below £2 a week?
Did they pay that in the Kildare County Council?
Interruptions.
Is the Minister aware that Irish railway men have suffered very much for the last ten years and will he take any action to remedy their sufferings?
Hear, hear.
Mr. Bourke
Irish railwaymen have been dismissed without any justification whatever, and I would like the Minister——
I am afraid that is another question.
What is the minimum living wage?
You know nothing about it.
I have no responsibility about the question which the Deputy raised.
The Minister stated that he felt that they were not reduced below the minimum wage. Can he state that definitely?
I say definitely that the award of the Wages Board does not involve any reduction in the operating staff, who receive 40/- weekly or less.
I suppose I have permission to discuss Questions 2 and 3 together?