asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what guarantees there are that Irish seasonal workers on Scottish farms are paid the appropriate agricultural wage and overtime rate while potato picking.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seasonal Workers in Scotland.
13.
The relevant wages Order No. 14 of 12th December, 1970, which prescribes minimum weekly and hourly rates for both male and female workers applies to Irish seasonal workers in the same way as to other workers. Complaints are investigated by an inspectorate attached to the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board and if sufficient evidence is available the employer or contractor can be taken to court.
Have the Department done anything about Irish employees?
Have any complaints been made——
Will I answer your Leader first? There has been one complaint involving an Irish worker and there is not sufficient evidence to bring it to court.
Does the Minister know about the murder or man-slaughter——
That does not arise on the question.
Of course it does, in relation to insurance stamps.
With due respect to you and to the House there are Irish people involved and we are going to protect them as best we can. It is our business to do it. If the Minister for Labour or the Minister for Foreign Affairs thinks he can shield and hide from what has been going on he is making a mistake. They have been exporting people not to work but to help other people to exploit our people.
The Deputy asked a question about the rates of pay and I answered him. I do not know what the Deputy is talking about when he refers to hiding. The Irish Embassy in London have been in touch with the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.
Who went up to Scotland? There was a phone call from the Irish Embassy in London. I will name the man who made it. Nobody went up there.
The Secretary of State for Scotland has set up an inquiry into the allegations.
Who went up to inquire?
Does the Deputy not believe in telephone calls? These are the Luddites who do not believe in telephones.
It was said here in the House a fortnight ago——
The Deputy is seeking to make a debate out of this.
You would not let me ask a simple question.
I know the man who made the telephone call but the Minister did not send anyone up.
If he went up instead of telephoning the Deputy would be asking about his expenses.
There was no proper investigation.
There is an inquiry.
The workers are being treated scandalously. A man died in tragic circumstances, his cards were not stamped and his people are left without compensation. It is very important.
The Secretary of State for Scotland has an inquiry going on.
When did it start? When did the investigator from the Embassy in London go to Scotland? He never went.
The Secretary of State for Scotland is not a member of the Irish Embassy.
There are lives at stake.
The Deputy may not make a debate out of this.
The Minister deliberately deceived this House when he said a member of the Embassy went to Scotland. No such thing happened. A phone call was made about what had happened and the people concerned in Scotland refused to give the details. Now where do we go?
We go to the next question.
I do not accept that a man had to go to Scotland. We can use the phone.
The Minister said he went.
He did.
He rang a priest.
The advisory officer in the Embassy went in mid-May and he has supplied a preliminary report. It will be necessary for him to make another visit and he will be in awful trouble if Deputy Coughlan does not stop.
He is from Kiskeam in County Cork.
I have no doubt he has a name. I will investigate the complaint. This man has reported and he intends to go back again when the potato picking is under way.
Question No. 14 postponed.