asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the decision not to send a delegation to the annual International Labour Organisation Conference was based on disapproval of the holding of the Conference this year in U.S.A., and if it is to be assumed that delegations from this country will in future attend only at conferences held in Europe.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - International Labour Organisation.
The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the decision not to send a delegation to the annual International Labour Organisation Conference is to be taken as an indication of disapproval of the aims or work of the organisation and, if not, whether any steps have been or will be taken to prevent misunderstanding amongst other States members of the organisation of this country's attitude to the organisation and its aims; and, if so, what steps.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Director-General of the International Labour Organisation is being informed that there is no change of outlook or attitude on the part of the Government to the activities of the organisation.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, before deciding that a delegation from Ireland should not attend the International Labour Organisation Conference, he consulted the Congress of Irish Unions, the Irish Trade Union Congress, the Federated Union of Employers, or any of these organisations, and if any of these organisations approved of the proposal not to send a delegation.
Organisations of employers and of workers were not consulted before a decision was taken that a delegation from Ireland should not attend the International Labour Conference in San Francisco. The decision was made without consultation in accordance with precedents established over many years.
Having regard to the constitution of the International Labour Organisation, which provides for tripartite representation, does the Minister not think that consultation with other parties of organised employers and workers in the country is an appropriate step to take before reaching a decision not to send a delegation?
Might I draw the Deputy's attention to the latter part of the answer: "The decision was made without consultation in accordance with precedents established over many years."
Will the Minister say for a fact that there was not an Irish delegation at every conference of the International Labour Organisation except during the war period?
I will say that there was not, in fact, a fully constituted representation at conferences before the war period.
What conferences?
That statement is not correct.
It is correct.
Are we to assume from the Minister's reply that the interests of Irish labour are not of sufficient importance to merit representation at international conferences at the present time?
I am quite satisfied that the interests of Irish labour do not coincide with the Deputy's interests.
That is not the point. The Minister and the Government in preventing a delegation from attending at this conference have indicated that as far as they are concerned the interests of Irish labour are not of sufficient importance. I am asking the Minister to confirm that interpretation which may be put upon the action of the Government in this matter.
I am deeply touched by the Deputy's concern for the interests of Irish labour.
It does not matter how deeply this matter may affect the Minister. What we are concerned with here is how it affects the interests of the Irish workers.