asked the Minister for Labour if he has any plans to bring about equality in employment.

: The Deputy's question presumably relates to equality of treatment as between men and women in employment.

The legal right to equal pay and to equality of treatment in employment as between men and women has been established under the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, and the Employment Equality Act, 1977, respectively. Both Acts provide ready means of redress for breaches of the entitlements provided.

The 1977 Act provided for the setting up of the Employment Equality Agency one of whose functions is to monitor the operation of the two Acts and to suggest amendments, if necessary. I should, of course, give careful consideration to any such proposals for amendments.

: Is the Minister happy with an earlier reply given by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach that the average earnings of women was 53 per cent of that of men? Does the Department of Labour have any proposals to rectify that or perhaps to have positive discrimination in favour of women?

: The Employment Equality Agency is a very effective and able agency and I am sure they will be alert to any inequalities under the two Acts mentioned and that they will take action accordingly.

: Apart from the Employment Equality Agency, is the Minister for Labour or the Government aware of the gross unfairness to women at work and have the Government any plans to rectify the imbalance?

: The Deputy is not entitled to make a distinction between the Employment Equality Agency and the Department of Labour because the Employment Equality Agency is under the aegis of the Department of Labour.

: Question No. 13.

: Would the Minister accept that, with women earning 53 per cent of the average male earnings, the situation is very unsatisfactory and that further steps need to be taken? What further steps, if any, are contemplated?

: If the Acts are found to be wanting, as I stated in my reply the Minister is amenable to amendments.

: Can I take it then——

: No. 13.

: Can I take it from the Minister that the Government have no wish to deter the movement towards equal pay between men and women?

: The Government are very anxious that the employment of women be on an equality basis. We have honoured the commitments in that regard without arms being twisted. That was not true in the case of the previous administration.

: No. 13.