We have not got an amendment down but has the Minister considered the question of extending the scope of the Bill in view of the fact that there are quite a number of people who are employed in agriculture and who, in fact, have agricultural stamps put on their insurance cards, but who, nevertheless, are not covered by the scope of the Bill? These people are usually in areas where it is difficult to get trade unions organised. The result is that in some cases they are not even paid the minimum rate. I gave a few instances to the Minister yesterday when we were discussing the Second Stage. Would the Minister consider them and, if necessary, would he consider amending the Bill in the Seanad?
These people are doing work which is recognised as agricultural work and they have to put agricultural stamps on their card, but they do not come within the scope of the Agricultural Wages Board. For instance, there are people employed in racing stables. They are doing agricultural work attached to racing stables. In many cases they are paid very much more than the minimum wage, but there are some cases where they are not even paid the minimum rate. Although agricultural stamps are put on their cards, if the matter is reported to the Agricultural Wages Board they cannot recover the arrears due.
There are others who are employed on golf links. There is another example of people employed in pleasure gardens. If they are employed as market gardeners they are agricultural workers but not if they work in pleasure gardens. There are also people looking after some church building or the church grounds. Even if they are regarded by everyone except the employer as being engaged on agricultural work, they have not got the protection of the Agricultural Wages Board. There are other categories too numerous to mention. Perhaps the Minister would consider introducing an amendment in the Seanad to cover this point.