Notice has been given of raising two matters on the adjournment, those referred to in questions 2 and 3. The subject matter of question No. 2 can be raised on the adjournment. With regard to No. 3, if, in fact, the Minister has no power to compel the company to meet the representatives of the men's trade union, what will be discussed on the adjournment? Is it the general principle of compulsory arbitration? We could not discuss the question of the dispute on the adjournment.
Question on Adjournment.
To discuss the Minister's refusal to bring the necessary pressure to bear upon the Company to meet the representatives of the men.
Having no powers.
The Minister can explain in greater detail the efforts he has made.
I have no powers.
We cannot discuss an industrial dispute. It is relevant by way of Parliamentary question, because the Minister does on occasions act as arbitrator through certain of his officials. Clearly a dispute is not for discussion in the House because an arbitrator, of course, cannot argue the merits. I prefer, therefore, Deputy Hogan's question.
We might be able to find out whether the Minister has done everything possible within the powers he has.
I think he has.
These are not the terms of the question. The question asked the Minister to take steps to compel the Company to meet representatives of the men. A trade dispute question is a common question and, as I say, it is relevant because of the Minister's functions as arbitrator, but because these are the functions of the Minister it is undesirable and it is cutting across the Minister's functions to discuss the merits of the dispute here, or to ask the Minister to express a view on the merits of the dispute. Since that cannot be done it is difficult to see what can be done under the terms of this notice.
Your ruling is that the directors of this Irish Omnibus Company are more powerful than the Minister?
Clearly I did not rule anything about the directors. I do not know anything about them. Perhaps the Deputy would leave the matter over till to-morrow, and in the interval between now and to-morrow he might find a notice that would enable him to get a discussion.
I am quite willing to give way to Deputy Hogan but not to accept the statement made by the Minister in his reply.
Subject matter of question 2 to be raised on the adjournment.