Vol. 188 No. 2
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether in view of the growing loss of confidence in the Labour Court and in its suitability to arbitrate in significant labour-management disputes, he will consider disbanding the Court.
31.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is a fact that the Government no longer accept the Labour Court as a negotiating machinery capable of handling certain labour-management relations; if it is the Government's intention to establish a new industrial tribunal for the purposes of negotiation between labour and management; and if so, in respect of which industries or class of industries it is proposed to establish such machinery.
With the permission of An Cheann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
I consider that the Labour Court has proved itself a valuable force in the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes. I am informed that in 1960 the Court dealt with 246 disputes either by way of conciliation or investigation and in all but 21 of these the Court's services were instrumental in securing a settlement. As, however, I indicated in a public statement, which was published in the Press on 28th February, I am at present examining the question of amendment of the Industrial Relations Acts with a view to determining whether changes in the existing machinery are necessary in the light of experience. I have as yet reached no final conclusions as it will be necessary to consult representatives of employers and labour before doing so.
Are we to take it that the contemplated review covers the scope of the entire Industrial Relations Act or has it particular reference to the settlement of the dispute between the workers and the C.I.E. management?
It does not refer to the entire scope of the Industrial Relations Act, nor does it refer simply to the settlement of a dispute between the C.I.E. workers and management. It refers to the conciliation and arbitration machinery generally of the Labour Court, as it applies to all industrial disputes.
Is it not a fact that the decision of the Labour Court in a most important recent transport dispute was repudiated by the O'Daly award? Is it not further a fact that the arbitrary and dictatorial decision of Mr. Andrews to lock out C.I.E. workers, if they did not accept the original award——
The Deputy is making a statement.
——a demonstrably unfair award, was equally repudiated by the O'Daly award? Mr. Andrews ought to be censured by this House.
