asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that boilermen employed in the County Hospital Portlaoighise, are in receipt of wages considerably below rates paid to boilermen employed by other local authorities in the country; further, that they are required to work four consecutive shifts with only eight hours relief between shifts; that repeated representations have been made by their trade union to the county manager on their behalf and that such representations have been ignored; and finally whether, in view of the fact that these employees are debarred from presenting their case to the Labour Court, he will have their conditions, hours of work and rates of wages inquired into forthwith, with the object of placing them in a fair, comparable position with other boilermen employed by local authorities in the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Portlaoighise Hospital Boilermen.
The matters referred to in the question are primarily matters for the local authority in the first instance.
If the boilermen are dissatisfied with their remuneration, duties or conditions of service, it is open to them to appeal to me under Section 10 of the Local Government Act, 1941, against any decision of the local authority affecting such remuneration and conditions.
Is the Minister aware that the county manager in this particular instance has ignored the wishes of the county council, refused to deal with the men concerned, and that an appeal was sent to his predecessor? Surely such an appeal is on the files of the Department and can be examined by the Minister and will he give an undertaking that he will do so?
That appeal, I take it, was dealt with.
No, I do not think so.
Better make the appeal again.
Will the Minister look into it?
If the appeal is made, I have to look into it.