asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1961 applies to (a) agricultural workers employed by the Department of Agriculture, (b) forestry workers employed by the Department of Lands, (c) drainage workers employed by the Office of Public Works, (d) agricultural workers employed by the Dublin Health Authority and (e) agricultural workers employed by the Agricultural Institute.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Application of Holidays (Employees) Act, 1961.
60.
The Holidays (Employees) Act, 1961 is regarded as applying to categories (b) and (c) in the Deputy's question.
As a result of inquiries received in my Department, the position of the other categories of workers, which involves among other things questions of interpretation, is at present under consideration in consultation with the other Departments concerned. I will inform the Deputy of the result.
The Deputy will, of course, appreciate that only a Court of Law is competent to give an authoritative interpretation of an Act of the Oireachtas and any opinions I may express are subject to this.