asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is taking any steps to end the strike at Castlecomer Collieries which has been in progress for the past seven months and which involves 500 colliery workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Strike at Castlecomer Collieries.
I would refer the Deputy to a reply which I made in April last to a similar question.
The Labour Court was set up to give advice on how industrial disputes should be settled, and I propose to leave that work in the hands of the court.
The issues in the dispute at Castlecomer were referred to the Labour Court and the court made a recommendation in August last. One of the parties to the dispute declined to accept the award and there the matter rests.
Does the Minister not feel, in view of the very severe hardship caused to those who were working in the collieries, the loss to the district generally, the loss to national economy from the point of view of the output of coal, and the approach of winter, that a special effort ought to be made to bring the parties together again?
The Deputy is, I think, aware that the machinery of the court and the court itself are always available and quite ready to render any assistance that may be necessary in that connection.
Has the Minister received any reports that might suggest that the collieries might be closed down if the dispute is not settled, and will he indicate that, irrespective of the merits of the dispute and the efforts made to settle it, the closing down of the collieries will not be permitted in view of the fact that they form such a valuable adjunct to our national economy?
No such reports have reached me.
I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I have no responsibility in this matter.