asked the Minister for Labour if he proposes to take any initiative to narrow the differences between rates of pay for men and women; or whether this is a matter for the Employer/Labour Conference in the first instance.
Ceisteanna——Questions. Oral Answers. - Equal Pay.
24.
The Deputy will be aware of the provisions in the 1972 and 1974 national agreements for narrowing or eliminating the difference in the rates of pay of men and women.
The Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, which was enacted in the last session by the Oireachtas, provides for the full implementation of equal pay from the end of 1975.
During the debate on that Act, an undertaking was given to set up an Equal Pay Review Committee which will have the function of monitoring progress towards equal pay up to the end of 1975 and thereafter to monitor how the Act is being implemented. The composition of this committee will be announced shortly.
25.
asked the Minister for Labour the number of cases that have been referred to the Equal Pay Commissioner since he was appointed by the Labour Court in November, 1972.
Twenty-eight cases of disagreement in 15 different employments have so far been referred to the Equal Pay Commissioner.