asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the unemployment caused in the building trade as a result of the strike of employees of builders' providers, he intends to take any steps to endeavour to settle the strike.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Building Strike.
The present unemployment in the building trade, which arises indirectly from the dispute between certain builders' providers and their employees, is a matter of serious concern to me and to the Government. If this situation continues for very long, there is a danger that, even when normal conditions return, the building industry may be prevented by a shortage of skilled operatives from providing full normal employment.
As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, the dispute between the builders' poroviders and their employees was investigated by the Labour Court. The court's recommendation has been rejected by the workers and the employers have not yet indicated their attitude to it. In the circumstances. I do not see what I can do at this stage to bring the strike to an end. I am, however, keeping in close touch with the whole position.
As the Government adopted special measures to deal with the recent bank dispute, notwithstanding the fact that other machinery was available, and, as the builders' proimportance and interest to the community, will the Minister take steps to establish special machinery to settle it?
I would not like to answer that question by means of a supplementary interogatory, because I think the Deputy and the trade union movement will have to consider the reactions which would follow if there is a right of appeal to the Minister against a decision of the Labour Court. That is an issue which, I think, requires much further consideration than we can give it in the course of a short question time here to-day.
Will the Minister consider abolishing the Labour Court, seeing that the workers are rejecting——
That is an entirely separate question.