asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is now in a position to indicate what action the Government proposes to take on the recommendations made by the commission on youth unemployment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Unemployment.
The recommendations of the commission on youth unemployment relate to the work of many Departments. The Government instructed each Minister to examine the recommendations having a bearing on the work of his Department. It is intended that steps will be taken by the appropriate Department to give effect to such of the recommendations as may be accepted without waiting on the completion of the examination of all the recommendations.
So far as the Department of Industry and Commerce is concerned, the recommendations referred to it, and the action being taken thereon are as follows:—
Recommendation No.30—Establishment of good systems of Apprenticeship.
Action: Discussions with employers' and workers' organisations have been initiated with the object of bringing the apprenticeship system generally into line with the commission's recommendations.
Recommendation No.38.—Continuance of medical supervision beyond the school leaving age.
Action: Provisions based on this recommendation will be included in the new Factories Bill now being prepared.
Recommendation No.43.—Age of entry into employment to correspond with school leaving age.
Action: Accepted. This is the present position.
Recommendation No.44.—Statutory provisions relating to minimum standards of welfare to be kept up to date.
Action: Accepted. The new Factories Bill will so provide.
Recommendation No.46(b) and46(c).—Joint Labour Committees to be established for domestic workers and messengers.
Action: Additional committees will be established when shown to be necessary or desirable.
Recommendation No.47.—Extension to office workers of the statutory protection now enjoyed by factory and shop workers.
Action: Decision deferred pending completion of investigation now in progress by International Labour Organisation.
Recommendation No.48.—Enforcement of law relating to conditions of employment to be in accordance with Convention No.81of International Labour Organisation.
Action: Inspection of industrial work places is carried out in accordance with terms of the International Labour Organisation Convention.
Will we have from the Minister or from some member of the Government at a later date some indication as to what co-ordinated action is being taken by the other Departments who have been asked to examine aspects of the report?
The co-ordination of action between Departments is not necessary. A number of recommendations were made which relate to the work of different Departments and action on these is being taken in the appropriate Department. If the Deputy wants to know what action is being taken by the appropriate Department on a particular recommendation he can get that information by addressing a question to the Minister concerned.
The question I put down on the Order Paper was to inquire what action the Government propose to take on the recommendations. I did not ask what action the Department of Industry and Commerce proposes to take on the recommendations. If I do not make a mistake, the question is addressed to the Taoiseach, asking what action the Government propose to take on the combined recommendations made by the commission.
I have told the Deputy.
The Minister has given me an indication of the action taken by the Department of Industry andCommerce and has said that the other Departments have been asked to examine aspects of the report which concern them. Can we have from the other Departments an indication such as that given by the Minister for Industry and Commerce of the action they have taken on the recommendation which they regard as appropriate to them?
You can.
In other words, can we have from the other Departments a comprehensive statement as to what they have done or propose to do?
The Deputy can have a statement from each Department if he puts down a question.
Can we have that?
Yes, the Deputy can get that by addressing a question to the Minister in charge of the Department as to what action his Department has taken. So far as the Government is concerned, their decision was to refer the recommendations to the appropriate Department for action.
Would the Tánaiste say whether the Government have any information as to what action is being taken by the Departments following the Government's decision to refer the matter to these Departments?
Certainly. The recommendations of each Minister are made to the Government and, if approved by the Government, are then put into operation by the appropriate Department concerned.
May I put it this way to the Tánaiste—has the Tánaiste received from any of the Departments to whom the matter was referred any recommendations for action by the Department, with Government approval?
It would not be appropriate for them to send recommendations to me. They would be sent to the Government.
I am asking theTánaiste, as representing the Government, not as Minister for Industry and Commerce. Has the Government received any proposals from these Departments?
Yes.
For action?
Yes.
Why could not we get that in reply to the question? The question asks what action the Government propose to take on the recommendations.
The Deputy will have to seek that information from the individual Departments.
I will put this question down in another form.