asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider extending the terms of reference for election to the board of CIE to make persons who have retired eligible for election and also to make such persons eligible to vote.
340.
Written Answers. - Worker Director Elections.
337.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider changing the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act, 1977, in order to allow retired persons from State bodies to be entitled to go for election as Worker Director and to vote in such elections.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 and 340 together.
Section 11 (1) (a) and (b) of the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act, 1977, provides that a candidate for election as an employee director must be an employee of the designated body to which the election relates and be between 18 and 65 years of age. Section 10 (2) (a) and (b) of the Act also provides that the right to vote at such elections applies only to employees of the body concerned who are over 18 years and have had continuous employment with that body for not less than one year.
I do not propose to amend the Act to provide for the election of retired employees as directors of CIE or of any of the designated State enterprises or to allow such retired persons to vote at the elections.