This is the section which provides that where a grant is made by the company for the training of workers for any commercial or industrial enterprise, the amount of the grant shall not exceed the actual amount of wages paid to such workers during the period of their training, together with, in the case of workers trained outside the State, the amount of their travelling and subsistence expenses. It occurs to me that in this context "wages" has a particular connotation. It generally applies to employees of a particular class. It may be that not alone workers in what we call the factory class, but technicians in the salary class, would require to be trained in new techniques and that it is intended that such people on salaries would also be so entitled, and the company could make grants for the payment of their training, whether inside or outside the State. I wonder if I am right in that, that these grants are intended to be applicable to technicians and salaried workers as well as wage-earning classes? If I am, it seems a pity that "wages" is not extended to include salaries.
Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited Bill, 1959—Committee and Final Stages.
Sections 1 to 8, inclusive, agreed to.
SECTION 9.
Question proposed: "That Section 9 stand part of the Bill."
Technicians do come within the ambit of the training.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 10 to 13, inclusive, agreed to.
Schedule and Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment.
Agreed to take remaining Stages today.
Bill received for final consideration.
Question proposed:—"That the Bill do now pass."
Arising out of the Minister's reply, would the Minister indicate in what way the technicians are covered in the Bill? I perused the Bill with some care and it does not seem to me that people who are normally regarded as receiving salaries, and are not in the wage classes, are covered.
All I can say is that the grants are given on the same basis as that on which they are given by An Foras Tionscal. Anybody who needs to be trained in any technical capacity can be sent to some other country and can receive the necessary subsistence and travelling expenses and the wages or salary to which he was accustomed.
Question put and agreed to.