asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the serious situation developing at Shannon airport as a result of the strike of electricians, he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Shannon Airport Strike.
19.
In the employment of industrial staff by Government Departments, the policy is to observe wages and conditions entered into by employers and trade unions. This policy has been implemented at Shannon and Cork Airports, where the wages and conditions of employment of electricians employed by me are those laid down in the National Agreement negotiated between the Electrical Trade Union and the employers in the electrical industry.
Claims have been made by the trade union on behalf of the electricians first at Shannon and later at Cork which were not in accordance with the National Agreement and which I was accordingly unable to accept. As a result, a strike occurred at both Airports on 27th October which still continues. Since the strike occurred, a meeting between officers of my Department and the trade union has taken place under an independent chairman. Certain proposals were made at this meeting which were not in conflict with the National Agreement and it was agreed that these proposals should be recommended by both sides for approval. I accepted these proposals but subsequently learned that the men concerned had rejected them.
As negotiations are still continuing, I do not think that anything further I could say at this stage would be helpful.
Would the Minister tell the House when the National Agreement, which he mentions, was agreed to by his Department and the electricians?
We have always followed the National Agreement laid down.
When was that Agreement drawn up?
It has been drawn up regularly in connection with the various wage agreements made from time to time in the industry.
Is the Minister aware that conditions at Shannon Airport, as applied by other contractors, are far ahead of those for the men employed by the Minister and that all these electricians ask is that they be put on the same basis as the other tradesmen employed at Shannon Airport? Surely that is not asking the Minister to go too far?
The Deputy might allow these negotiations to continue. He is not serving any good purpose by asking me to intervene.
In view of the grave situation that might arise at Shannon Airport, I think it is the Minister's responsibility to bring this strike to an early settlement, which he can very easily do.
That is not the question.
The Deputy is not asking a question; he is making a statement.
And the Chair is well able to determine that, without advice from the Tánaiste.
I did not hear the Tánaiste; I did not hear a word from the Tánaiste.
Perhaps Deputy Coughlan could be afforded the same facilities as some Independent Deputies.
No Deputy is allowed to make a statement in respect of the matter which is the subject of the question.
The Deputy should be entitled, in view of the gravity of the situation at Shannon——
I cannot decide whether there is a grave situation at Shannon or not.
(Interruptions.)
I cannot allow the Deputy to make a statement.
Is it not a fact, and is the Minister not aware, that the conditions which these electricians are seeking are only similar to the conditions prevailing in relation to every other contractor at Shannon?
The Deputy asked that supplementary question before.
I have not got an answer.
I cannot help that.
Does the Minister know anything at all about that or about what happens in his Department?
Question No. 20.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment, in view of the unsatisfactory reply of the Minister.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.