§ Mr. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Dublin, Harbour)asked whether, in constituting the staff to carry out the National Insurance Act in Ireland, any regard has been paid to the claims of trade unionists to be directly represented thereon, and, if so, to what extent; whether any steps have been taken to ascertain the views of trade unionists in Ireland as to the regulations to be made by the Commissioners for that country; whether a separate advisory committee or separate advisory committees will be appointed for Ireland before such regulations are made and published; and, if so, whether Irish trade unions will be represented upon such committee or committees?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe permanent staff of the Irish Commissioners has been recruited at present exclusively from the Civil Service. But a separate advisory committee will be constituted to give assistance to the Irish Commission in connection with the making of regulations, and on that committee representatives of the Irish trade unions will certainly be invited to serve.
§ Mr. MOOREHave the Commissioners in Ireland been assisted in their consideration of matters by the presence of a Nationalist Member of Parliament?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have no information on that subject.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWould the hon. Gentleman say whether the official lecturers are part of the permanent staff, or if they are temporary, or how they are engaged?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo, Sir; the lecturers are temporary.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI think they are engaged by the week, but I will make inquiries.