asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will take prompt and effective steps to enforce the law prohibiting the employment of child labour in the city of Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Labour in Dublin.
49.
The employment of children under 14 years of age in industrial work is prohibited by the Conditions of Employment Act, 1936 and a check is kept on this matter by inspectors of my Department in the course of their normal inspections of factories. There is a similar prohibition in the case of shops and Dublin hotels under the Shops (Conditions of Employment) Acts, 1938 and 1942, and any complaints received are investigated.
If the Deputy is in a position to let me have specific information about a possible breach of the law, I will, of course, have it investigated.
Is the Minister in a position to say whether any action has been taken under the Conditions of Employment Act?
A number of prosecutions have been taken.
Does the Minister think that it remains for a Deputy to be a watchdog in matters of this kind?
Yes.
I think Deputies have responsibility.
The Government have, too.
What is the responsibility of the Minister and his cohorts?
I have inspectors. If cases exist which are not discovered by the inspectors and the Deputy is aware of them, he has the responsibility of letting me know.
If inspectors prove to be negligent, what happens?
I would simply deal with the matter.
Has there been any disciplinary action taken in relation to inspectors who have been negligent?
The Deputy is asking a fifth supplementary question. The Deputy is not entitled to ask all these questions. I am calling Question No. 50.
Mr. O'Leary
Is the Minister aware that many of the joint industrial councils attached to the Labour Court have had complaints from time to time about firms competing with members of these joint industrial councils which employ non-union labour? Many of them employ child labour. I am thinking in particular of the textile trade in Dublin.
If the Deputy thinks I can get information from these councils, I shall certainly have the councils approached.
Surely this does not mean that we simply pass an Act, give it our blessing, and not give effect to it? Surely the Minister is responsible for enforcing the Act?
The Deputy should remember this is Question Time. The Deputy has asked his quota of questions. I am calling Question No. 50.