asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention had been directed to the publication by the Stationery Office of a brochure entitled "Some Statistics of Wage Earnings and Hours of Works in 1951"and the introduction which describes in brief the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, 1946, and if he has noted the closing sentence of paragraph (c), page 6, headed Trade Disputes which states that an arbitration award is, of course, binding, and if it is his intention to withdraw from circulation this official publication and to explain to the International Labour Organisation the reasons for such withdrawal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stationery Office Publication.
I have seen the publication referred to in the question. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that there is obviously something inconsistent in a branch of the Taoiseach's Department issuing an official publication which declares that awards of arbitration boards are binding while at the same time the Government responsible for the issue of that publication is acting in a manner in relation to the Civil Service Arbitration Board Award as if that award was not morally binding on the Government?
The answer to all parts of the Deputy's supplementary question is in the negative.
Can the Minister explain to the House why, if arbitration awards are declared binding in a publication issued by the Taoiseach's Department, he will not accept the obvious obligation of that declaration so far as the Civil Service Arbitration Board Award is concerned?
The answer is still in the negative.
May I take it the Minister is really ashamed of the Government's present attitude?
The answer is still in the negative.