asked the Minister for Labour if he will, in respect of the 28 cases being processed under the Equal Pay Act, 1974, on 14 November 1978 (1) name the parties to each of the 28 claims, (2) give the dates on which the claims were initially brought to the attention of the Employment Equality Officer of the Labour Court, and (3) state the order in which claims are processed.

As regards the first part of the question, section 6 (5) of the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, provides that an investigation by an equality officer of the Labour Court shall be conducted in private. In addition, section 8 (2) of the Act provides, inter alia, that any person concerned with proceedings under the Act, shall not disclose information without the consent of the parties concerned. It has not been the practice to disclose the identity of the parties involved while cases are being processed, and it will be understood, therefore, that the information in the first part of the question cannot be supplied. Once recommendations have been made by an equality officer, however, copies are circulated to the parties concerned as well as to various organisations such as trade unions and the media.

In relation to the second part, the dates of referral of the claims in question were as follows: one in June 1976; one each in April, May and August 1977; three in September 1977; one each in October and November 1977; seven in December 1977; two each in February and March 1978; one in April 1978; four in May 1978; and one each in July, October and November 1978. Since 14 November 1978. 21 recommendations have been issued in respect of the cases referred to.

As regards the third part of the question, normally cases are processed in the order in which all the submissions and documentation required by the equality officer are lodged. Supplementary information and submissions, and replies to equality officers' queries may, however, prevent cases being completed according to the order of receipt.

Would the Minister have information in his brief about the longest outstanding case awaiting recommendation?

At present?

Yes.

I have not got information in relation to the current situation, but the Deputy will see from my reply that the longest outstanding case of which we were aware in November 1978 was one in June 1976. In respect of those 28 cases, 21 recommendations have been made. I should point out that one of the delaying factors can be the difficulty in getting submissions, documentation and information from one or both parties.

I accept the Minister's explanation for the delays in such cases. Does he now know whether the 1976 case has been disposed of?

That is a separate question.

I am not sure whether it has been disposed of but I can say that at least one recommendation has been made in respect of it. In order to speed the disposal of claims, I have obtained sanction to increase the number of equality officers from three to five.