asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) whether any inspections have been made of the factories and workshops stated by him to have been started since March last or of extensions of factories and workshops since that date; (b) whether any cases of the employment of child labour have been reported in such factories and workshops; (c) whether, where breaches of the Factory and Workshop laws have been pointed out by inspectors, the necessary requirements have been complied with; (d) whether there have been any prosecutions for breaches of the Factory and Workshop laws following such inspections and, if so, with what results; and (e) when the last reports of any such inspections were made and what periods were covered by the reports.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Factories and Workshops.
(a) 91 per cent. of the factories and workshops opened since March last or extended since that date have been inspected; (b) no cases of the employment of child labour have been reported; (c) notices in writing in respect of breaches of the Factory and Workshop Acts have been issued to "occupiers" of these factories and workshops. Pending further inspections it is not possible to state definitely whether the irregularities have been remedied in all cases, but there is no reason for suspecting non-compliance with the instructions issued; (d) there have been no prosecutions for breaches of the Factory and Workshop Acts in the factories and workshops referred to; (e) inspectors report fully in writing in respect of each inspection made.