asked the Minister for Labour whether he is satisfied that constraints and other requirements in relation to the employment of women, especially in relation to working hours and heavy duties, designed to protect women are not, in fact, discriminatory; if not, if he is considering introducing amending legislation; and if he will list the constraints and requirements he intends to amend.

Provisions of the kind referred to by the Deputy are contained in the Condition Employment Act, 1936, the Shops (Conditions of Employment ) Act, 1938, The Factories Acts, 1955 and the Mines and Quarries Act, 1965. Some of these are based on obligation entered into on the ratification of ILO conventions, for example, Convention No. 89 which forbids the employment of women on industrial work after midnight and before 5 a.m.

Under the Employment Equality Act, 1977, I am empowered to repeal or amend by order any provision in certain protective legislation. The Act also provides that the Employment Equality Agency who came into operation on 1st October, may review, or if requested by me, shall review any provisions of such protective legislation In the course of such review the agency must consult with the employer and worker organisations concerned and they may make recommendation for amendment. I propose to await the arecommendations of the agency in the matter.