Vol. 264 No. 3
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to paragraph 20 (iii) of the National Pay Agreement, 1972 in relation to the powers of the Agricultural Wages Board under section 17 of the Agricultural Wages Act, 1936; if he has been advised as to whether the Board has power to give effect to this provision of the National Pay Agreement, 1972; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
42.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if legal opinion was sought for the Agricultural Wages Board in connection with the application of the national pay agreements to agricultural workers as to whether the Board is (a) legally bound by the national agreement 1970 or (b) has power to give effect to the national agreement 1970; and, if so, if he will state the authority for framing the legal queries, the authority for authorising payment of the legal fee and the text of any opinion received.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.
I have no function in regard to the matters referred to in the questions.
The Agricultural Wages Board only fixes the minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, subject to which the actual rates are negotiable in accordance with the conditions ordinarily applicable otherwise.
