Vol. 215 No. 9
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, further to a reply of 11th March regarding paid holidays for the staff of a British insurance company operating in this country, any action has yet been taken on this matter; and if, in view of the fact that the holiday period is now approaching, he will treat this as a matter of urgency in order to ensure that the staff of this company will get holidays with pay this year.
27.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that a number of insurance companies are refusing to apply the provisions of the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1961 and regulations made thereunder to agents employed by them under contracts for services or contracts of service; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter to ensure that such agents are granted appropriate holidays or pay in lieu thereof.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
The Holidays (Employees) Act, 1961, confers on all persons employed under a contract of service a statutory entitlement to holidays with pay, and Regulations made in July, 1963, confer similar entitlement on whole time insurance agents who are employed under a contract for services and who are paid by way of commission on premiums collected by them. A complaint about failure to grant holidays with pay has been investigated in my Department and has been referred to the Chief State Solicitor for consideration of the appropriate legal proceedings.
