Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:4 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the average industrial wage for males and females on the latest date for which figures are available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Average Industrial Earnings.
The average gross weekly earnings of industrial workers on adult rates of pay in manufacturing industries for mid-March 1993, the latest period for which figures are available, are as follows: males £281.35; females £180.10. These figures include overtime, regular bonuses and service pay, shift and other allowances and relate to an average number of hours worked per week of: males 41.3; females 37.2.
Does the Minister have similar figures for any juncture since the equality legislation was enacted? Will he agree that this kind of gap between the average earnings of males and females is unconscionable and warrants putting through this House at an early date the legislation promised by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform?
I think the Deputy will agree that this question is essentially statistical. Matters of policy should not arise at this stage.
I am putting it to the Minister that the gap between the average earnings of males and females is widening rather than narrowing. Does the Minister have information for any time since the introduction of the 1974 legislation which would contradict this?
Clearly the Deputy's question relates to policy. We now come to deal with questions nominated for priority, to the Minister for the Environment.