asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will introduce legislation to make it mandatory on private road haulage concerns to introduce, throughout the industry, the conditions of employment observed by C.I.E., including pay rates, permanency of employment, superannuation, sickness benefits, working conditions and high standards of vehicle maintenance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conditions of Employment in Road Haulage.
It is the normal practice prevailing in industry generally to settle the rates of pay and conditions of employment of workers by negotiations between the employers and the trade unions representing the workers. This is also the practice of C.I.E. It is in my view the most desirable method and I am not prepared to legislate so as to impose any different procedure in the case of private road haulage concerns.
Questions relating to standards of vehicle maintenance should be addressed to the Minister for Local Government. I understand, however, that the appropriate regulations are of general application, irrespective of whether the vehicles are used for public or private road haulage.
I am sure the Minister is satisfied that the conditions of employment, superannuation, pension rights, sickness benefits, conditions of employment generally and high standards of vehicle maintenance referred to here are not the standards generally applicable in the business of private hauliers and that is one of the major factors which creates the impression that private hauliers give more efficient and less costly service as compared with C.I.E.
I am assuming that is correct, but I am not making the deduction from the facts which the Deputy is making, namely, that the State should intervene to regulate wages and conditions of employment in this occupation.
Surely it follows from the fact that a State company is competing at a disadvantage with the private haulier that any subsequent loss of trade to the State company must be recouped from the taxpayer and is, consequently, a loss to us?
That is correct.