asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will indicate (a) whether the Agricultural Wages Board are taking steps to ensure that an agricultural worker is paid a full week's wages for a working week of four hours less than before the Agricultural Workers (Weekly Half-Holidays) Act was passed; (b) what steps the Agricultural Wages Board are taking to have the provisions of the Agricultural Workers (Weekly Half-Holidays) Act enforced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Workers' Holidays.
Mr. Walsh
The Agricultural Wages Board, which is an autonomous body, is carrying out its normal functions in connection with the enforcement of minimum wages prescribed by it under the Agricultural Wages Act, 1936, and the allowance of holidays under the Agricultural Workers (Holidays) Act, 1950. The Agricultural Workers (Weekly Half-Holidays) Act, 1951, assigns no functions to the board in regard to the enforcement of its provisions.
If the Agricultural Workers (Weekly Half-Holidays) Act has any merit at all, is it not the duty of the Agricultural Wages Board to see that those regulations are applied? In Donegal we have agricultural workers who have been getting a weekly half-holiday over a number of years but who, notwithstanding, have to work a full 54-hour week. They are anxious to know if, under the Act, provision is made for working a 50-hour week instead.
Would not the Minister deem it advisable, when making his reply, to avail of this opportunity to advise agricultural workers that they have a remedy in law if they are not enjoying the half-holiday? Is the Minister aware that very shortly there will be a Private Members' Bill introduced in the House to remedy the defect in the Bill and Deputy Cunningham can support it?
Is it possible that the Minister will not direct the Agricultural Wages Board to try to see that farm workers, who are not now getting their half-holiday, will get it? It is true that the majority of farmers are giving the half-holiday, but some are not. In some places, if the employee seeks his half-holiday, he is given his cards the next Monday morning. Would the Minister not ask the Agricultural Wages Board, when they are investigating cases in connection with the weekly holiday, to consider this matter of the half-holiday?
Mr. Walsh
They have no functions whatsoever in the matter. The Act is not clear cut enough in its provisions.
Does it have to be laid down in the Act?
Mr. Walsh
Yes, the only resort the agricultural workers have at the present time, according to the Act, is to go to the courts.
Are we to take it that there is no machinery available under which the wishes of this House, enacted into law, can be carried out?
Mr. Walsh
Why did not you put it in order when you were doing it?
Does the Minister now propose to put it in order?