asked the Minister for Labour if the Government will now reconsider their decision and ratify the International Labour Organisation's Convention on equal pay for equal work for men and women.

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question from him on 24th May, 1966, in which I stated that, before taking a decision on the possibility of ratifying International Labour Organisation Convention No. 100 relating to equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value, the Government should have regard to the trend in free collective bargaining in the direction of equal pay. Having regard to the general existing pay structures it would not be appropriate to ratify the Convention at this stage.

Would I be right in assuming, in the light of that reply, that it is the policy of the Government to perpetuate wage and salary discrimination against women?

The policy of the Government is to accept free collective bargaining. Governments have followed this trend and, if the Deputy is serious in his question, he has the remedy in his own hands.

Surely the Minister will agree that one is led to believe from the mumblings of spokesmen of his Department that the Government would set a headline in this matter?

There is free collective bargaining and if trade unions want to bargain, they are free to do so.

At the next wage round?

Is the Minister advising the trade union movement to stand firmly for equal pay for men and women?

Having regard to the fact that this Government are hoping to join by any and every means the European Economic Community, is it their intention now to ratify this Convention, which has been ratified by the other countries in the Community, and is it not time the Minister reconsidered his approach in this matter?

If the change in the wage structure is brought about through free collective bargaining in which the trade unions take part, we will follow that trend. The remedy is in the Deputy's own hands. The Deputy thinks the Government must do everything except interfere with the trade unions.

Surely the Minister will agree there are two sides?

Free collective bargaining is free collective bargaining. It is not the function of the Government.