asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the fact that the Government delegates to the 1954 International Labour Conference had been instructed to support the principle of granting a minimum of two weeks' annual holidays with pay to workers, he will reconsider his decision not to amend the Holidays (Employees) Act so as to give effect to this principle.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Workers' Annual Holidays.
I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave on 18th June, 1958, to somewhat similar questions by the Deputy on this subject, except to point out that the instructions given by my predecessor to the Government delegates to the 1954 International Labour Conference, expressly prohibited them from entering into any commitment to give legislative effect to the recommendation relating to the granting of a minimum of two weeks' annual holidays with pay.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the fact that, subsequent to the instructions which were issued to the Government delegates attending the International Labour Conference in 1954, a decision was taken by me directing the Department to prepare legislation for the grant of a fortnight's annual holidays to industrial workers; and that there is a record of that fact in the files of the Department of Industry and Commerce?
The Deputy's statement is correct, but he did not get any agreement from any other Department or Minister and no final decision was taken to bring in a measure. The matter was left as it was until the present Minister came into office, and he decided not to proceed any further in the matter.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not consider that the situation is rather ridiculous? If accredited delegates representing this country in the International Labour Conference vote for the introduction of such a type of progressive legislation, even though they are not officially committing their Government, surely they are expressing an opinion that the holidays should be increased in this manner? It places this country in a most peculiar situation, if——
The Deputy is making a speech, not asking a question.
——the Government has decided not to implement that and not to introduce legislation which the representatives at least advocated in a world conference.
That is a matter of opinion.