§ 29. Mr. MYERSasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that payment of assimilation arrears due from 1st July, 1920, under the Whitley Scheme have not yet been made to the Irish staff of the Ministry of Labour Employment Department; and whether, seeing that the staff in Great Britain was paid two months ago and that Sir James Masterson Smith gave an undertaking in October last that any agreement reached in regard to the service in Great Britain would apply equally to the Irish staff, he will see that this undertaking is carried into effect?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is quite true that an undertaking has been given that the agreement reached regarding the reorganisation of the Departmental Class of the Employment and Insurance Department in Great Britain shall apply equally to the staff of the Employment Branch of the Irish Department; and my hon. Friend may rest assured that this undertaking will be honoured. But the reorganisation of the Irish Department of the Ministry of Labour presents peculiar difficulties at the present time, and it has not been found practicable to reorganise the Employment Branch of the Irish Department without completing the reorganisation of the Irish Department as a whole. But these difficulties are being examined with care, and I hope that they will be removed without undue delay.