asked the Minister for Labour if he proposes to implement the Interim Report on Equal Pay; and if he will make a statement on the decision of the Commissioner in relation to equal pay in the confectionery trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report on Equal Pay.
7.
The Government as part of their 14-Point Programme are committed to the ending of all forms of discrimination against women and have indicated their general acceptance of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Commission on the Status of Women.
As the Deputy will be aware, a Bill dealing with equal pay was introduced in the Dáil on 3rd July, 1973. I hope to be in a position to circulate the text of the Bill in the next few weeks.
In accordance with clause 10 of the national agreement, 1972, the Equal Pay Commissioner reports to the Labour Court and to the parties concerned. The agreement sets out the procedures agreed for dealing with these reports.
In the case mentioned by the Deputy the reasons for the conclusion reached by the Equal Pay Commissioner were explained at length in his report which has been published.
Is the Minister satisfied with these explanations? Does he accept the Commissioner's report?
As the Deputy is aware, the report on equal pay is a lengthy document dealing in detail with this question. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not a document about which one says one agrees or otherwise. There are very many items in that report which I am having studied at present.