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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Nov 1962

Vol. 197 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Agricultural Wage Rates.

17.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the precise provision of the Agricultural Wages Act 1936 under which the Agricultural Wages Board must inform itself of the contracts of employment normally made, and the conditions prevailing under them, in the wages districts or parts of such wages districts.

I am advised that there is no specific provision having the effect suggested in the Deputy's question. The obligation resting on the Agricultural Wages Board under the Agricultural Wages Act 1936 to relate its determinations of minimum rates of wages to the prevailing contracts and conditions of employment arises from the context, purpose and plan of the Act taken as a whole.

Will the Minister say if there is anything in the Agricultural Wages Act 1936 which states what he has said in answer to my question? In what portion of it is the information given?

I stated in reply that there is no provision in the Act laying that down.

Why then did the Minister for Agriculture recently, in reply to a question, state there was no such provision?

I will have to check that with the Minister.

I should be glad if the Minister would do so.

18.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if the provisions in Section 17(6)(c) of the Agricultural Wages Act 1936 that the Agricultural Wages Board shall take into consideration the recommendations of the area committees in making an order under Section 17(1) of the Act impose an obligation on the Board to give effect to such recommendations or merely oblige the Board to note the recommendations, in view of a decision of the Board at their 68th meeting to reject the recommendations of all five area committees.

Paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of Section 17 of the Agricultural Wages Act, 1936, does not require the Agricultural Wages Board to take recommendations of Agricultural Wages Area Committees into account. Paragraph (e) does so; but the provisions of that paragraph do not impose any obligation on the Board to give effect to such recommendations.

They are wasting their time meeting at all.

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