asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the Agricultural Wages Board at their meeting on 6th February decided to make a draft amending order providing for an increase of fifteen shillings in the minimum rates applicable to adult workers, with pro-rata increases for other workers; that the proposals were published by the Board on 8th February; and that the draft amending order, complete in every detail except the operative date, has been served on the Area Committees; and if, in view of these circumstances, the Board have power to make the new order operative (a) from 8th February, or (b) from the date of publication of the draft order.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Agricultural Wage Rates.
25.
I am advised that the Agricultural Wages Acts 1936 and 1945, under which the order referred to would be made, do not confer any power to give retrospective effect to such orders. Hence, retrospective operation is not possible.