asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will list the adaptation councils now fully operative; whether at this stage he is satisfied with their performance; whether he is aware of the complaints of the trade union advisory bodies that inadequate information is available to them from the adaptation councils; and whether he will consider taking action to ensure better co-operation between both bodies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Adaptation Councils.
42.
Mr. O'Leary
There are 22 adaptation councils. As the list is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
Cotton |
Pottery |
|
Structural Steel |
Furniture |
|
Paint Leather Footwear |
Woollen and Worsted |
|
Iron Foundries |
Printing |
|
Paper and Paperboard |
Men's and Boys' Clothing |
|
Hosiery and Knitwear |
Margarine Agricultural |
|
Shirtmaking |
Machinery |
|
Gloves |
Protective Clothing |
|
Women's and Children's Gar- ments |
Brushmaking Leather Food Processing |
|
Pharmaceuticals |
As I indicated on 10 November, 1965 (Vol. 218 No. 9, Col. 1537) the position about adaptation councils generally is reasonably satisfactory but their effectiveness has varied somewhat.
The Deputy is, no doubt, aware that the establishment of adaptation councils and trade union advisory bodies stems from the recommendations contained in the Third Interim Report of the Committee on Industrial Organisation. These envisaged that the adaptation councils would be organised and operated in a manner best suited to the circumstances of the particular industry. The role of the trade union advisory bodies was seen as a consultative one. I am aware that in some cases trade union advisory bodies have urged the need for greater consultation with their particular adaptation councils and I think that this is being achieved and will, I hope, be achieved in greater degree through the joint participation of councils and advisory bodies in the reviews of progress under the Second Programme at present taking place.