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Dáil Éireann - Volume 39 - 02 July, 1931 Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Transport Bill and Railway Workers. Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe 1351 [1351] Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will have the findings of the Railway Wages Board examined with a view to recommending the non-reduction in the wages of the lower grades; and further, if he will state that in the promised Transport Bill a clause will be inserted to protect the lower grades from being reduced to a wage below minimum living rates. Mr. McGilligan Mr. McGilligan Mr. McGilligan: Section 55 of the Railways Act, 1924, provides that the wages and conditions of service of railway employees shall be regulated in accordance with agreements made between the trades unions representative of such employees and the railway companies. The Railway Wages Board derives its authority from such an agreement. I am not aware of any more appropriate statutory provision for dealing with railway wages questions nor of any better machinery for examining such questions and making recommendations upon them. I have already stated in reply to a previous question that the award of the Wages Board does not involve any reduction in the wages of the operative classes of railway employees receiving 40/- per week or less. Mr. Davin Mr. Davin Mr. Davin: Will the Minister ask Deputy Briscoe to remove the mask from his innocent-looking face and to state in pounds, shillings and pence what he considers to be the minimum wage? Mr. Anthony Mr. Anthony Mr. Anthony: What does he consider the living wage? Mr. Killilea Mr. Killilea Mr. Killilea: Someone has to represent them. Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe: I am sorry for putting the question to the Minister. I stepped very heavily on Deputy Davin's shoes this evening. An Ceann Comhairle Michael Hayes An Ceann Comhairle: Is that a question? Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe: Is the Minister satisfied that in the lower grades the reduction does not bring them below £2? Mr. Davin Mr. Davin 1352 [1352] Mr. Davin: What is the minimum living wage? Mr. Lemass Mr. Lemass Mr. Lemass: £1,000 a year for members of the Labour Party. Mr. Davin Mr. Davin Mr. Davin: £1 a week for Republican Lemass. An Ceann Comhairle Michael Hayes An Ceann Comhairle: This is a unique situation for the Minister. Deputy Briscoe is entitled to ask a supplementary question and I propose to let him. Mr. Davin Mr. Davin Mr. Davin: Ask Deputy Harris to explain to the Kildare railway men. Mr. G. Boland Mr. G. Boland Mr. G. Boland: Deputy Harris will talk to you later on. Mr. Davin Mr. Davin Mr. Davin: You represent the blackleg railway men. Mr. Aiken Mr. Aiken Mr. Aiken: What about the £1,000 a year blackleg on your own benches and the scabs? Mr. Davin Mr. Davin Mr. Davin: Will the war minister keep quiet. Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe: Is the Minister absolutely satisfied that the reduction in the lower grade workers will not in any event bring them below £2 a week? Mr. Anthony Mr. Anthony Mr. Anthony: Did they pay that in the Kildare County Council? Interruptions. Mr. D. Bourke Mr. D. Bourke Mr. D. Bourke: Is the Minister aware that Irish railway men have suffered very much for the last ten years and will he take any action to remedy their sufferings? Mr. Davin Mr. Davin Mr. Davin: Hear, hear. Mr. Bourke Mr. Bourke Mr. Bourke: Irish railwaymen have been dismissed without any justification whatever, and I would like the Minister—— An Ceann Comhairle Michael Hayes An Ceann Comhairle: I am afraid that is another question. Mr. Davin Mr. Davin Mr. Davin: What is the minimum living wage? Mr. Killilea Mr. Killilea Mr. Killilea: You know nothing about it. Mr. McGilligan Mr. McGilligan 1353 [1353] Mr. McGilligan: I have no responsibility about the question which the Deputy raised. Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe: The Minister stated that he felt that they were not reduced below the minimum wage. Can he state that definitely? Mr. McGilligan Mr. McGilligan Mr. McGilligan: I say definitely that the award of the Wages Board does not involve any reduction in the operating staff, who receive 40/- weekly or less. Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe Mr. Briscoe: I suppose I have permission to discuss Questions 2 and 3 together? Dáil Éireann 39 Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. The Transport Bill and Railway Workers. Questions 19310702
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