asked the Minister for Labour if the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 101, and in particular Article 5, has been adopted; and, if so, when legislative proposals will be introduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ILO Conventions.
40.
Convention No. 101 of the International Labour Organisation which concerns holidays with pay in agriculture has not been ratified by this country. The Agricultural Workers (Holidays) Act, 1950, meets many of the requirements of the convention, but does not fulfil all its detailed provisions.
Would the Minister consider that it is now appropriate that an attempt be made to meet all the provisions—in other words, that it should be ratified?
It cannot be ratified until the legislation would justify it. It would mean an examination by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries of the legislation.
Would the Minister advise his colleague to have another look at it because apparently he has not yet made up his mind?
He has decided on it from time to time. It is not vacillation. It is considered.
Has he decided that what is good enough for the International Labour Organisation in this connection is not good enough for Ireland?
41.
asked the Minister for Labour if Article 3 of the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 99 has been adopted; and when it is proposed to introduce the appropriate proposals for legislation.
Convention No. 99 of the International Labour Organisation concerning minimum wage-fixing machinery in agriculture has not been ratified by this country.
The Agriculture Wages Act, 1936, meets many of the requirements of the Convention but does not fulfil all its detailed provisions.
Why has it not been ratified?
Again, our legislation does not meet all the provisions of the Convention. It cannot be ratified until this is done.
Why should we not have our standards the same as those of the others?
Not every country ratifies every convention. These conventions are this year being examined —all of them—again.
These conventions to which I have referred have been ratified fairly generally in Europe——
Next question, please.
42.
asked the Minister for Labour the extent to which the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 119 regarding agricultural machinery has been adopted; and when proposals for legislation will be introduced.
Convention No. 119 of the International Labour Organisation, which covers the guarding of machinery in general, has not been ratified by this country.
The Government have decided that the Convention is acceptable in principle but legislation will be necessary to implement this decision. My Department is, at present, engaged in a general review of the law relating to safety, health and welfare of workers and the law relating to safety of machinery will be covered in this review. Safety of agriculture machinery and protection of agricultural workers do not come within my Department's functions but I propose, as part of the general review of safety law, to consult with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries on these matters.
Recently, a few weeks ago, when I asked a question about protection for tractor drivers, the Minister's colleague became rather angry and said that, a few days earlier, he made the necessary arrangements. What has happened that they do not appear to have been put into operation? Tractor drivers are killed because of the lack of protection.
Is the Deputy referring to the Minister for Local Government?
Yes.
He did say that he proposed to make regulations under the Road Traffic Acts requiring safety frames to be fitted to all tractors whose weight does not exceed 7¼ tons.
Obviously he has not done that. It is now more than two months ago. He was a bit angry and suggested I was jumping the gun and must have known about this. Yet, he does not appear to have made the regulations.
I have not the date of the answer.
About six months ago.
Imported agricultural machinery must have these safety frames on them—those from England, Holland and even from America. Could the Minister not get his colleague to introduce legislation as soon as possible to bring the same conditions into operation here in order to safeguard our farm workers?
As far as he can do so, the Minister for Local Government is covering safety on tractors under the Road Traffic Acts—I think they are responsible for most of the accidents with agricultural machinery. The protection of workers in the use of tractors would not totally be covered by the first instance, the requirement of a new tractor. It would require new law and inspection of machinery on farms. This is something to be considered. I intend to consult the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries on this matter.
The type of cradle fitted to a tractor is elementary in construction and rather easy to make and to fit. There should be a big demand for it all over the country. If the regulation was introduced, farmers would do something about having them fitted.
The exchange of opinion on the matter may be valuable. In the review of safety, and in the absence of any comprehensive law on safety for agricultural workers, I intend to consult with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries about the introduction of laws for the protection of agricultural workers.