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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 May 1952

Vol. 131 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Córas Iompair Éireann and Great Northern Railway Employees.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the failure of Córas Iompair Éireann and the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) to comply with the provisions of Section 46 of the Transport Act, 1950, and Section 55 of the Railways Act, 1924, respectively, requiring these undertakings to regulate the rates of pay and conditions of service of certain of their employees by agreement with the trade unions representative of such employees; and, if so, whether he will take steps to ensure that the law is complied with in this respect.

I am not aware of any failure on the part of Córas Iompair Éireann and the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) to comply with the statutory requirements to which the Deputy refers. I have no functions under Section 46 of the Transport Act, 1950, or Section 55 of the Railways Act, 1924, and consequently there is no action which I can take in the matter.

If the Minister is furnished with a copy of the relevant correspondence will he undertake to take the matter up with Córas Iompair Éireann? Is he aware, and, if he is not, will he ask his advisers to make him aware, that apart from the legal rights of the workers concerned, constitutional rights are also involved in the matter? Will he give an undertaking now that he will raise the matter with Córas Iompair Éireann?

The Deputy knows very well that under the Act passed in 1950 the Minister for Industry and Commerce has no function in these matters. If the Deputy questions something that Córas Iompair Éireann is doing from a legal or constitutional point of view then he has his remedy.

Is it not the duty of the Minister to see that the Act is enforced and that the workers employed by Córas Iompair Éireann are given their legal and constitutional rights? Will he give an undertaking that if he is furnished with the relevant correspondence he will take the matter up with the company?

Deputy Davin supported that Act when it was going through. That Act took the Minister out of the question and gave him no functions.

No. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer given by the Minister and in view of his lack of knowledge on the matter, I propose with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to raise the matter on the adjournment.

We will educate the Deputy.

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