asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether by letter dated the 3rd October, 1951, he requested the observations of the Irish Trade Union Congress on an application made by a glass manufacturing company for an Exclusion Order under the Conditions of Employment Act, 1936, to permit the employment of boys from 16 to 18 years of age between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., and having received the strongest objections from the congress to the making of such Order he nevertheless proceeded to make an Exclusion Order without seeking any further consultations with this representative workers' organisation so as to ensure that proper considerations would be given to the views expressed by the congress on the detrimental effect on the boys' health of working during the hours proposed by the applicants for the Orders; and, further, if he will state what consideration, if any, has been given to the representations made by the congress on the same occasion as to the failure of the employers to make adequate provision for the training of Irish nationals in this skilled craft of glass blowing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade Union Congress Application.
Before making these regulations I sought the observations of the union concerned and of both the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions in the matter. I gave full consideration to the objections expressed by the Irish Trade Union Congress, but having regard to all the circumstances, including the recommendation of the union of workers concerned, I decided that the regulations should be made.
I have also given full consideration to the suggestion made by the congress that the employers have failed to make provision for the training of Irish nationals and I am satisfied, as a result of my inquiries, that this suggestion is not in accordance with the facts.