asked the Taoiseach if he has seen the statement of Mr. John Conroy, General President of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, that a need existed for a top-level independent conciliation officer who would be empowered when normal channels of negotiation and conciliation failed to step into the breach before the die was cast; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Independent Conciliation Officer.
1.
Every proposal for the amendment of the Industrial Relations Acts which may be put forward, and particularly proposals which have secured the agreement of all the parties concerned with the powers and functions of the Labour Court, will, of course, receive the most careful consideration of the Government.
It is, however, the Government's view that the normal and proper procedure for the settlement of trade disputes should begin with direct negotiation between the parties, to be followed, if the direct negotiation should prove to be unsuccessful, by recourse to the services provided by the Labour Court.
The institution of any system of appeals from the formal recommendations of the Labour Court would, in the Government's opinion, be very undesirable and would defeat its own purpose. If the recommendations of the Labour Court were to be made, or should in practice generally tend to be regarded as, the starting point instead of the final stage of negotiation in trade disputes, the value and usefulness of the Court would be seriously impaired.