asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of medical referees employed in his Department; the number of vacancies; and the salaries attaching to these posts for (1) men and (2) women.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Referees.
77.
The authorised medical staff of my Department is one medical adviser, one deputy medical adviser and 11 medical referees. There is at present one medical referee vacancy which is filled temporarily by a doctor employed on a fee basis. The salary scale for the post of medical referee is £3,839 by £89 to £4,423 for a man and £3,119 by £77 to £3,801 for a woman.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary like to comment on the disparity in salaries for men and women in this appointment?
That is a separate question.
As the Deputy has asked me I should like to state that I would like to see them equal.
Good. Could the Parliamentary Secretary say when they are going to be equal?
As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Finance in a recent announcement in relation to the Report on the Status of Women, indicated that this was under active consideration.
The Parliamentary Secretary might like to know that that particular vacancy would be filled by a lady doctor if she was given a guarantee that she would receive the same pay as a man.
The permanent post has been vacant but it has been filled by a qualified doctor on a fee basis.
That is costing the State a lot more money.