asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will ensure that the circumstances of existing employees will not suffer by the application of eyesight testing for locomotive drivers and trainees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Eyesight Testing for Drivers.
19.
It is necessary for safety that medical—including eyesight —examination should apply to locomotive drivers and trainees. Accordingly, section 29 of the Transport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1971, which will shortly be coming before the Dáil provides that locomotive drivers and persons whom CIE wish to train as locomotive drivers shall be subject to periodic medical—including eyesight—examination in accordance with regulations to be made by me on the application of the board and after consultation with the representative trade unions.
This provision will not interfere in any way with existing agreements between CIE and the trade unions regulating inter alia the arrangements to apply where locomotive drivers are found unfit for their duties by reason of failing eyesight nor with the right of the trade unions to negotiate with CIE alterations in such agreements.
This is the exact opposite of what the Minister said to me in the House yesterday. The Minister told me he was reconsidering this section. I understand what the Minister said to me.
Will Deputy O'Donovan sit down? Everybody seems to be suffering from end of session hysteria today. What happened yesterday afternoon in the Seanad was that I introduced an amendment to the section in the Bill which will be before the House shortly. This amendment was in accordance with my assurance to the trade unions whom I met that no regulation would be made by me on the application of CIE unless or until I had consultations with the representative trade unions. That has been written in as an amendment in the Seanad and it will be before the House that any such regulation put to me by the Board of CIE can only be made after consultation with the trade unions concerned. I had the fullest possible discussion with the trade unions concerned. They were perfectly happy with my suggestion. It will be coming to the House here from the Seanad.
The Minister gave me a different assurance in the House yesterday. The Minister said he was reconsidering the section.
I have reconsidered the section in the Seanad and put in the amendment on the lines I have mentioned.