asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that the provisions of Convention No. 98 of the International Labour Office on the right to organise and bargain collectively, which was ratified by the Irish Government, are not complied with by Hospitals' Trust (1940) Ltd., in so far as the management will only recognise and negotiate with an employees' staff association, or "house union", in respect of clerical employees and refuses to comply with a Labour Court recommendation by recognising the right of an established and licensed trade union to represent and negotiate on behalf of its members on the clerical staff of the Trust; further, and in so far as the Trust is only legally empowered to conduct public sweepstakes by reason of ministerial sanction under the Public Hospitals Acts, 1933 to 1940, if he will inform the Trust that, as a condition to the continuation of ministerial sanction, they will be required to conform to the provisions of the international convention and to the publicly declared policy of the Government.
Questions— Oral Answers. - Hospitals' Trust Employees.
I have no function with regard to the implementation of the provisions of either the convention or recommendation referred to. The powers of the Minister for Justice to make modifications in a scheme for a sweepstake submitted to him under Section 6 of the Public Hospitals Act, 1933, relate only to such matters as are dealt with in the section. The question of staff control or representation is not one of these matters.