asked the Taoiseach the average (i) industrial wage; (ii) female industrial wage; (iii) male industrial wage as of 1 January 1980; and the percentage of the female wage represented by the male wage.

The latest available information relates to overall average earnings of industrial workers in transportable goods industries for a week in June 1979. In that week, average earnings of (i) all industrial workers were £1.868 per hour or £79.86 per week; (ii) women, on adult rates of pay, were £1.369 per hour or £52.56 per week; (iii) men, on adult rates of pay, were £2.120 per hour or £94.41 per week.

The ratio of the figures quoted for men to the figures quoted for women was 155 per cent in the case of the hourly earnings and 180 per cent in the case of the weekly earnings. Average hours worked were 44.5 for men and 38.4 for women.

Have the Government any plans to help women more urgently towards achieving quality and equal pay under these headings?

I am sure it is an aim of the Government to bring about equality of pay. I see from some information here that things are evening out. From 1973 to 1979, the percentage of male earnings over female earnings dropped from 167 to 153. You are well on your way to equality.

Would the Minister not agree that the difference in pay per hour for men of £2.12 and for women of £1.37 is far too big a gap and is a very sad reflection on the lack of progress towards equality?

The Minister is responsible for statistics.

Could the Minister tell the House what the Government party are doing about advancing towards equality more urgently?

The movement of the Government's whole social policy is towards upping the quality of life for all our citizens, men and women. There will be no inequalities when we are finished.