§ 26. Mr. BYRNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the advisability of paying the same war bonus to Irish railway workers as is paid to English railway employés doing similar work?
Mr. ROBERTSThe whole question of the war bonus to be paid to Irish railway employés has quite recently been fully considered from every point of view, and it is not proposed to alter the agreement then arrived at.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs it not a fact that the Irish workers are paid less than the English workers who do equivalent work, and is there any valid reason to be given for that discrimination?
Mr. ROBERTSI do not think I am called upon to give a reason why a discrimination exists. I can only say that 1120 the matter has been arranged with the representatives of the trade unions concerned. The agreement is settled by them, and it is not contemplated to reopen the matter at this stage.