asked the Minister for Finance if he will state how the InterDepartmental Wages Advisory Committee is constituted, the name of the chairman and other members, and the Departments represented by the members; if he will also state the terms of reference of the committee, and whether reports are made by it; and, if so, in what form and to whom the reports are furnished.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inter-Departmental Wages Advisory Committee.
The InterDepartmental Wages Advisory Committee is composed of one representative of each of the following Departments:—Finance, Industry and Commerce, Defence, Local Government and Public Health, Agriculture, Posts and Telegraphs, and Lands, together with a representative of the Office of Public Works. The representative of the Department of Industry and Commerce acts as chairman. All the members of the committee are civil servants and no useful purpose would be served by publishing the names of the individuals who, as part of their normal official duties, are from time to time called upon to serve on the committee.
No formal terms of reference were at any time issued to the committee, the function of which is to advise the Minister for Finance, on specific reference being made to it by his direction, on rates of wages payable to workmen and artisans employed in Government Departments. The recommendations of the committee are included in the minutes of its meetings which are made available to the Departments represented on the committee and to any other Department which may be interested in a specific reference.