Before the Vice-President announces the Order of Business, would it be in order to ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is in a position to make any communication to the House as to the prospects of a settlement in the labour dispute that has been proceeding with the Press and which he has been concerned to conciliate, and whether he would be in a position to give any similar information in connection with the trade dispute that has been proceeding in the printing industry which he has also been concerned to conciliate?
Private Notice Question. - Position in Printing and Newspaper Industry.
The Deputy is aware that notice of intention to raise a question of urgent public importance should have been given to the Chair. Obviously, the matter that he has raised could not be discussed at length at this stage.
If it is not in order to do so I do not wish to press it. I felt that if I were to address a question to the Minister it might in some way have embarrassed him or hindered him in the work he was doing. If the Minister feels that no useful purpose would be served by making a statement now I do not wish to press him.
In so far as the dispute between the job printers and certain unions is concerned a settlement has been achieved, and I understand that work will be resumed to-morrow. There is no change in the situation so far as the newspapers are concerned.