asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that workers are being paid off by the Great Northern Railway Board who are in the main persons from the Twenty-Six Counties; and, if so, if he will make a statement.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Great Northern Railway Workers.
The Great Northern Railway Board was established, in accordance with the agreement made with the Ministry of Commerce, Belfast, to operate the Great Northern Railway undertaking. Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 7 of the Great Northern Railway Act, 1953, which deal with directions on matters of policy relating to the conduct of the undertaking and the provisions of Section 18 which deals with investigations of the affairs of the board, and the corresponding provisions of the Great Northern Railway (Northern Ireland) Act, 1953, neither I nor the Minister of Commerce, Belfast, has any powers to intervene in the administration of the board.
As this is the first question of its kind to appear on the Order Paper of the Dáil, I must make it clear that I cannot interfere with nor influence decisions of the board relating to the recruitment, promotion, or dismissal of staffs or answer questions about such matters, and that I assume, from the provisions of the Six-County legislation, that the position of the Minister of Commerce, Belfast, is similar.