asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the following question of which he had given him private notice: Whether his Department has taken any steps to avert a stoppage of work in the Dublin Gas Works, which is understood to be apprehended to-night.
PRIVATE NOTICE QUESTION. - DUBLIN GAS WORKS—THREATENED STOPPAGE OF WORK.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has been endeavouring for some time to effect a settlement of differences which have arisen between the Dublin Gas Company and the Transport Union. I regret to say that these efforts have not succeeded, and that there is a possibility that there will be a stoppage of work to-night.
In these circumstances, and having regard particularly to the serious inconvenience and dislocation that a stoppage of the gas supply would involve, not only to private consumers, but to a large number of industrial concerns I have decided to exercise my powers under the Industrial Courts Act, 1919, and to appoint Mr. Fred Allan as a Court of Inquiry to investigate and report on the circumstances of the dispute. I would urge the parties to exhaust every rational means of settlement before a stoppage of work that would seriously affect the industries and general life of the city is allowed to take place, and I hope that the parties will defer any such action to enable the Court of Inquiry thoroughly to investigate the matter and to formulate suggestions for a settlement.