asked the Minister for Agriculture (a) if the Agricultural Wages Board, when fixing different rates of wages for different districts, give due regard to such considerations as the general fertility of the soil, local wage levels and the proximity of markets, and (b) if he will state generally the principal considerations which influence the board to vary rates of wages from district to district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Workers' Wages.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on the 4th December, 1957, to a somewhat similar question put by Deputy Kyne. As I indicated then, the considerations which must influence the Agricultural Wages Board in prescribing minimum rates of wages are matters which are entirely within the province of the board.
asked the Minister for Agricultural if he will state as regards the Agricultural Wages Act, 1936, (a) the number of current permit holders under Section 18 of the Act, and (b) if there is provision whereby the wages specified in a permit granted under Section 18 can be legally recovered from a defaulting employer, and, if not, whereby proceedings can be maintained for the recovery of the appropriate minimum rate fixed under Section 17.
I have been informed by the Agricultural Wages Board that, since the Agricultural Wages Act, 1936, came into operation, 1,126 temporary permits and 2,720 permanent permits were granted by the board to incapacitated workers. Eighty-five temporary permits are current. Permanent permits were granted to elderly or permanently incapacitated workers, and information as to the number of the holders who are still alive is not available.
As to part (b) of the question, the permits do not specify the wages to be paid to the holders.
If that is the case, what is the position under Section 17 in relation to claimants? Can they make any move?
As far as I know, they have power to make a stipulation, but I am sure the Deputy will realise the difficulty of making such a stipulation because the degree of inability to work varies so much. To make a stipulation that would have any sense to it, regard would have to be had to the person's capacity to work. Therefore, I take it if no such stipulation is made, it is because there is a recognition between the parties concerned of the circumstances from the health or physical point of view.