asked the Minister for Labour when Ireland will ratify Convention 100 of the International Labour Organisation relating to equal pay for male and female employees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Equal Pay Convention.
57.
No decision has been taken to ratify this Convention.
Is the Minister aware that women are the negroes of Ireland? Is he further aware that if the Government will not take responsibility for equal work for equal pay they are only paying lip-service to the ideal of cherishing all the children of the nation equally?
I would not agree with that most offensive description of the women of Ireland. I should like to say —I have said this before in the House but Deputy L'Estrange may not have been listening—that the pay structure in Ireland is settled by free negotiation and we could subscribe to this convention if our system of free negotiation brings about a wage structure which fulfils the obligation.
Is the Minister aware of any objection from the unions to equal pay for equal work?
There is no oral objection. It is the unions who do the negotiating in a position of free collective bargaining. At the same time calling on the Government to fix wages and certain other things is not an honest posture.
Would the Minister not agree that there are certain factories run under State auspices which could have equal pay for equal work tomorrow with the full backing of the unions?
The Deputy, being a trade union official, should put his own house in order first.
Is it not true that if a recommendation comes from a local authority for an increase of an equal amount for men and women, leaving aside the question of equal pay for equal work, the Minister of State responsible will not agree to have it sanctioned? Will the Minister be straightforward about this? Is that not true?
I should like proof. It is easy to make allegations. The pay structure in Ireland is the result of free collective bargaining——
Does the Minister agree that there should be equal pay for equal work?
——and the differentials which exist have resulted from free negotiations. It is very dishonest for trade unions to look for a whipping boy.
(Interruptions.)
Does the Minister agree with equal pay for equal work?
My personal opinion——
Does the Minister agree or not?
The trade unions want to put certain responsibilities on to me and keep the nice things for themselves. They still negotiated 15/- for women and £1 for men last year. I have spoken often enough——
(Interruptions.)
I am asking the Minister a straight question.
The trade unions are the biggest stumbling block, not the employers or the State—is that what we are to understand? It this the main problem?
This is cross-examination.
I am not going into the dock for the trade unions' or the employers' neglect——
(Interruptions.)
——I put the question of changing from free collective bargaining up in the Estimate and you were all screaming like scalded cats.