asked the Minister for Health whether he will initiate steps towards providing equal pay for men and women doing equal work in the semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Equal Pay for Equal Work.
8.
This is a matter to be pursued with the bodies concerned through the normal collective bargaining procedures.
Arising out of the cryptic utterance of the Minister, would he agree that recommendations have already been made from the unions' side that equal pay for equal work should be instituted and that, therefore, the employee sections of the Department coming under his control are agreed the principle should operate and they are awaiting the Minister's viewpoint on this?
In reply to the Deputy, he should, I think, await the answer to the question addressed to the Minister for Finance on this general problem. In regard to the semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department it just so happens that, because of the character of the work done, in the vast majority of cases equal pay is already given for the same kind of work. In one or two other instances, where that is not the case, the request can be made through the normal channels.
State bodies?
Semi-State bodies.
What are they?
There is a long list of them. I could read it out. There are various medical boards. There are a great number of bodies.
But surely the Minister will agree that the employees of his Department would be interested in his opinion on this contentious matter? Surely the Minister has a viewpoint on this? The Minister is known for his viewpoints in many areas. Surely his maintaining silence on this is peculiar?
I would prefer the Deputy to await the substantive reply of the Minister for Finance, with which we all agree.