asked the Minister for Labour if he will make public recommendations of equality officers while equal pay decisions are under appeal.

Section 7 (4) of the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, as amended by section 36 (2) of the Employment Equality Act, 1977, provides that the equality officers' recommendations shall be conveyed to the Labour Court, to the parties to the dispute and, in the case of a dispute referred to the equality officers by the Employment Equality Agency, also to the Employment Equality Agency. I do not propose to interfere with these arrangements.

Is it not a fact that the Minister is not precluded from making public the recommendations of the equality officers? In view of the fact that the whole question of equality of pay is such a serious and important one in its social and economic significance, would it not be a good idea to have the public enlightened and educated by seeing the kind of recommendations that are made and what happens to them at the appeals' office?

That is not correct. The Minister has no function in the publication of recommendations of the equality officers. This is a matter for the Labour Court.

Is the Minister precluded from publishing the recomendations?

There is no specific provision in the Act that requires the Minister to make public the recommendations of the equality officers.

The Minister is not precluded from doing so.

6.