asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that men employed on rural improvement and minor employment schemes are seeking a five-day working week; and whether he has considered this case with a view to bringing their working conditions into line with those of county council workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Working Week of Rural Improvement and Employment Schemes Employees.
7.
Some representations have been made to have the five-day working week introduced on these schemes and the matter has been considered.
I would point out, however, that because of the provisions of the Conditions of Employment Act which limit the daily number of hours to be worked, the introduction of the five-day week would involve a reduction in the number of hours worked weekly, which is 48 at present. It is felt that such a reduction would have an impact on the conditions of employment of agricultural workers who are conditioned to a 50 hour week and it is considered essential to avoid any interference with the conditions of such workers.
The 48 hour week remains the standard throughout the country for workers employed by other Government Departments and it is regretted, therefore, that it is not possible to concede the five-day week to workers on the schemes in question.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not consider that it would have been more courteous to reply to the trade union with which negotiations had been taking place before giving that information in reply to any question?
The position is that on 18th October last the Minister for Finance directed a letter to the trade union concerned giving the Government's decision.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the matter was discussed within the last week with me as the general secretary of the trade union dealing with the majority of these men and would it not have been more courteous to give that information to me when it became available?
The Parliamentary Secretary has no authority as to the control of who will or who will not put down Parliamentary Questions. The Deputy had a discussion with me last Wednesday.
Did the Parliamentary Secretary not promise to give me a reply in writing? He has not done that.
The information requested by Deputy Tully on the occasion of his interview with me concerned a different matter altogether.
But this was one of the matters discussed?
Yes.
And I got no reply.