asked the Minister for Defence whether he has received representations from the Operative Plasterers' and Allied Trade Society of Ireland for permission to be given for one of their officials to make periodic visits to sections of his Department, which employ plasterers, to ensure that such workers are members of a trade union, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I have not received representations as mentioned in the first part of the question but in any event I could not agree to allow any trade union officials to visit sections of my Department employing civilian workers for the purpose of ensuring that such workers are members of a trade union.

Will the Minister state whether it is true or false that certain trade unions such as the A.S.W. have that facility and, if that is so, how does he account for it?

My information is that there is nobody possessing that right. I have been informed that on several occasions certain people did make application but permission was always refused on the grounds of security and for other reasons.

Has any union permission to go in?

Not to my knowledge.

Will the Minister not agree that it would be a good idea if this facility was extended to trade union officials?

That is a separate question.

asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that there are civilian plasterers employed by his Department who are not members of a trade union, while there are members of the Operative Plasterers' and Allied Trade Society of Ireland who are unemployed, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.

It is the long established policy of my Department, in common with other Government Departments, not to make membership of a trade union a condition of employment and, accordingly, I do not propose to take any action in the matter raised in the question.