asked the Minister for Labour the number of equal pay officers appointed in his Department; the dates such appointments were made; and the number of industries and firms which have been investigated by them to date regarding the implications of equal pay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Equal Pay Officers.
3.
Two equal pay officers were appointed to the Labour Court on 27th February, 1976. No disputes have yet been referred to an equal pay officer under the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974.
Why the delay in appointing these officers if part of their function is not exploring the difficulties being encountered by industry or by firms towards the payment of equal pay?
Their duties are carefully laid out under the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974. They deal with disputes arising out of equal pay and they issue recommendations. I should like to remind the Deputy that up to 31st December last the functions in relation to equal pay, as they are applied to industry, were discharged by the equal pay commissioners.
The Minister did not answer my first question about the delay in the appointments, in view of the passing of the Act so long ago. Who from his Department is at present reporting to him, supplying the information to him, on the cost to Irish industry, on the difficulties for Irish industry and the types of Irish industry that we are told will be affected by the implementation of equal pay?
The Deputy has strayed away from the question he asked me about the two appointments. I have given him that information. On the general subject of equal pay, if the Deputy wants to table a question I will be willing to answer him at any time. I do not see how his supplementary arises on this question today. On the general question he has put about the lateness of the appointments, I would refer him to my supplementary reply in which I said that the Equal Pay Commissioners discharged a role in relation to equal pay up to 31st December last.
I find it hard to understand why the Minister regards this as a separate subject. Perhaps it is because of his own doubtful position in this matter. On whose advice were assessors appointed to report on specific industries?
Which assessors?
Assessors to report to the Labour Court and from there to the Minister on the position that exists in certain Irish industries.
Which assessors? I do not know what the Deputy is talking about.
The assessors are the British consultants, if the Minister wishes to know, who were appointed by him or his Department to report on the equal pay situation in the leather and footwear industry.
If the Deputy wants to ask me a question about the report drawn up last year for the footwear industry I will be happy to supply him with that information. The Deputy has asked me a question on one aspect of this matter and I have answered it. If he is anxious to obtain information which already has been made fully public I will give him that information.