asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that great unrest has been caused amongst agricultural workers by the decision of the Agricultural Wages Board in fixing a wage of 24/- for a 54-hour week; whether he is aware that after deductions are made by the employers in respect of food and rent the sum that remains to provide food, fuel and clothing for the agricultural worker's family is wholly inadequate, and whether he is prepared to request the Agricultural Wages Board to review their recent determination with a view to increasing substantially the wages payable to agricultural workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wages of Agricultural Workers.
I am not aware that the position is as suggested by the Deputy in the first part of the question. As regards the other parts the matters referred to would appear to concern the functions imposed upon the Agricultural Wages Board by the Act under which it was constituted. The board is wholly responsible for any orders made by it in regard to minimum rates of wages and also for any amending orders considered necessary, and I am not in a position to interfere with the board's discretion in the matter.
Is the Minister not aware of the fact that agricultural wages to-day are lower than they were some years ago, although we have been told that the agricultural industry has been helped considerably by tariffs, by subsidies, by the reservation and protection of a particular market for agricultural produce, and by the fixation of minimum prices for agricultural produce? In view of these statements does the Minister consider that the agricultural industry is only capable of paying a wage of 24/- a week in rich counties like Kildare and Meath?
It does not matter what I think. The board decides.
Surely the Minister as the Minister for Agriculture, charged by this House with the responsibility for promoting the development and the prosperity of agriculture, considers he has some responsibility for the low rate of wages fixed by the board, namely 24/-, which has now, in practice, become the maximum rate for agricultural wages?
I am no more responsible than the Deputy.
The Minister has appointed the chairman of the board who is responsible for fixing this low minimum wage of 24/-. He is the Minister's nominee on the board and surely the Minister has some responsibility where his own nominee fixed such a low rate of wages?
The Deputy gave me the power to appoint the chairman.
I did not.