asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has recently taken any steps, and, if so, what steps to inform the Agricultural Wages Board that it is expedient to review their determinations relating to the wages of agricultural workers with a view to affecting a substantial improvement in these rates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Workers' Wages.
Mr. Corish
I recently suggested to the chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board that, if the board proposed to hold a meeting soon for the purpose of reviewing the minimum rates of agricultural wages, it might be desirable to defer such meeting until after the announcement of the general Budget proposals, when the board would be in a position to judge whether any of the proposals to be announced had a bearing on their problem. It should be understood, however, that this suggestion did not in any way detract from the status of the board as an independent body, or interfere with their discretion as regards the fixing of minimum rates of wages.
Will the Minister indicate the date when he made that submission to his nominee, the chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board? Will he also state if he is aware that, at a meeting of one of the area committees of the Wages Board, it was decided to recommend an increase in the rate of 7/6 per week and will he now make representations to the board to meet at an early date and favourably consider that recommendation?
The suggestion was made to the chairman of the Wages Board about a fortnight before the Budget was introduced. I have not been officially informed of any recommendation by a wages committee. The procedure which must be adopted by the chairman is to have meetings of all the committees and then a meeting of the board itself.
In view of the fact that the Minister for Finance provided £1,000,000 for reduction of rates with the sole purpose of enabling an increase in the rate of agricultural wages to be made, does the Minister not think it desirable to make an early submission to the board?
No time is being lost.
You are sure of that?
Yes.