asked the Minister for Health if he will state the reason for the delay in issuing a decision on the establishment of conciliation machinery for staff in the mental hospital service throughout the country along the lines suggested by the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union by letter dated 15th October, 1948, after he had expressed himself as being in sympathy with the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conciliation Machinery.
It will be appreciated that examination of this matter cannot be dissociated from consideration of the general problem of setting up conciliation machinery for the staffs of local authorities generally. The proposal, therefore, is one which affects a number of other Government Departments, and I am considering the matter in conjunction with the Departments concerned. In view of the importance of the issues involved and of the necessity for full consideration of the administrative and legal changes which the adoption of such a proposal would set in motion, some delay is inevitable before a decision can be reached.