andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if in view of the growing deterioration in the C.I.E. dispute in Cork he will intervene in the dispute to bring it to an amicable settlement as soon as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork C.I.E. Dispute.
72.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply to Deputy Browne's question on this subject on the 22nd November, 1961, when I explained that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in this case.
The position appears to have deteriorated further in so far as there is considerable hardship being imposed on the workers themselves and on the travelling public. Various prominent persons in Cork, including trade union leaders, have tried to solve this matter and it appears that the Minister is about the only person left who could intervene or whose intervention would be acceptable. Therefore, I would ask him to try to bring about an amicable settlement before Christmas.
I have already told the Deputy the difficulties confronting me in taking any action by way of intervention but I would urge very seriously on the workers in question, in the interests of themselves, of trade unionism and of the country, that they should accept the advice already offered to them by their own trade unions.
I am quite sure the Minister must be aware of the genuine conviction on matters of principle which appears to obtain on both sides of this dispute and, indeed, on the trade union side as well. Is he not aware that it requires somebody of his status as an individual, outside his status as Minister, to get over this unhappy state of affairs in his own constituency?
I am very conscious of the serious position in my own constituency and I know many of the men involved. I am very anxious that anything that can be done to alleviate these difficulties should be done but I repeat that the best advice and the best action that could be taken is as offered by the trade unions to the men themselves.