asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether arrangements have yet been made for the transfer to the Government of the Saorstát of responsibility for the Lighthouse Service at present administered by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and if he can give any information as to what will be the position of the staff as a result of the transfer.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SAORSTAT LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE.
TOMAS MAC EOIN
Arrangements have not yet been made for the transfer to the Saorstát of the service referred to in the question. Certain proposals have been put forward by the British Authorities for consideration and are at present being examined here and correspondence is proceeding. Until the negotiations are further advanced, it will not be possible to make a statement as to the eventual position of the staff of the Irish Lights Service.
Can the Minister explain what is the present position of the staff; under what authority and what conditions are they working? Are they working under British conditions or under Irish conditions? Does the fact that their employers or paymasters are the British authority warrant them in assuming that all the privileges and benefits derivable therefrom are legally claimable by them?
I fear that I cannot answer all the different questions that the Deputy put me. I have forgotten what question he started with. If he would put down a separate question, embracing the queries he has put to me now, I would endeavour to answer it.