asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that the employment exchange at Gardiner Street, Dublin, is offering clerical employment to men at the weekly wage of £9 11s 0d; if he is aware of the impossibility of a married man with a family subsisting on this sum; and whether his Department have assessed what is the minimum subsistence wage rate.

The present scale for temporary clerks in the employment exchanges was primarily intended for recruiting young persons. It starts at a weekly rate of 194s/3d a week, for persons under 18 years of age, which is the going rate for young persons recruited to clerical employment, and proceeds to a maximum of 317s/6d a week.

The scale was settled under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the Civil Service and may be adjusted through the procedures of that Scheme.

Is the Minister saying that this type of work is not, in fact, being offered to married men? I understand the Minister to say it is being offered to people under 18 years of age.

That is right.

It is, in fact, being offered to married men. I know one married man of 55 years of age, following another calling, who has been told that, if he does not accept this job at £9 11s a week, he will be struck off the register in the Labour Exchange.

I take it all Parties are agreed that the Conciliation and Arbitration machinery in the Civil Service is the correct medium through which this matter should be raised.

The Minister indicated in his reply that this work is applicable to persons under 18 years of age.

It is primarily intended for the recruitment of young persons and the scale relates primarily to people under 18 years of age. It could arise that vacancies for which the appropriate people are not available might be filled from outside.

Does the Minister regard it as reasonable, fair and proper to expect a married man with a family to accept a job carrying a wage of £9 11s a week in this day and age?

I do not think it is good.

This is employment in a Government Department. It is not a question of an outside employer. This man has been threatened that, if he does not take the job, he will be struck off. He wants to follow his own calling but he will not be allowed to do that.

We cannot have a speech on a Question.

There is Conciliation and Arbitration machinery and trade unionists have their own procedure.

This unfortunate man has nothing to do with this machinery. He wants to work at something else and, because of the unavailability of that particular employment, he is told in the Labour Exchange that, if he dots not take a job at £9 11s per week, he will be struck off.

Question No. 73.

It is not fair.

Shades of a general election.

That is the whole raison d'être of the trade union movement.

It should not happen.