asked the Taoiseach whether it is proposed to take any steps to implement any of the recommendations of the Commission on Vocational Organisation; and if so, whether he will indicate the recommendations which will be implemented and the nature of the measures which will be adopted for that purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recommendations of Vocational Organisation Commission.
In the course of my reply to the debate on the Estimate for my Department on the 2nd July last I made it clear that the Government is in favour of co-operation and, in general, of the development of vocational organisations by natural growth, provided that the interests of the community as a whole are capable of being adequately safeguarded under the type of organisation set up.
Of the recommendations of the commission which are immediately operable, a number have already been implemented by the Government, others are in the course of being implemented, and others are still under examination. As examples of recommendations already implemented, I might cite the Hire Purchase Act, 1946; the Industrial Relations Act, 1946; the Auctioneers and House Agents Act, 1947, which became law a few weeks ago; and the Consultative Medical Council set up by the Minister for Health, which held its inaugural meeting last week. The consolidation of laws, on which the commission also made recommendations, has been under active consideration for several years past, and a number of consolidating measures have been passed both before and since I received the report of the commission. Last May both Houses of the Oireachtas, at the instance of the Government, adopted additional standing Orders to facilitate the passage of consolidation Bills.
The report of the commission covers a wide range of complex subjects, and it is not yet possible for me to indicate finally the extent to which the recommendations of the commission will be implemented by the Government.