asked the Minister for Labour if, in view of the continuance of the present industrial disputes, he has any proposals to bring the parties to the disputes together and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - Industrial Disputes.
A conference between the parties to the maintenance workers' dispute is at present taking place under the chairmanship of the Director of the Conciliation Service of the Labour Court.
I should like to take this opportunity of repeating the appeal, made earlier today on the radio, to the workers concerned in the maintenance workers' dispute, to return to work pending the outcome of the discussions now proceeding at the Labour Court.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I believe Deputies on both sides of the House will re-echo his appeal, but the Minister is aware that last week, when this matter was raised on the Order of Business, the Taoiseach expressed the view that it was not an appropriate subject for discussion. Since then the Minister has himself twice addressed himself to this problem, which may be an appropriate function of the Minister, but, surely in a matter of this sort, if the matter is to be ventilated in public, the appropriate place in which to ventilate it is the Dáil?
We are not a Fianna Fáil cummann in West Clare.
In deference to the Taoiseach's request, the matter was not pursued here in the belief that, very often, ventilating matters of this sort does not help towards a settlement. However, if a decision of that character was arrived at, the Minister will appreciate, I think, that it should not be one-sided and that, if there was general agreement not to discuss the matter, then this House and the Members of it should have been informed that it was proposed to raise the matter elsewhere than in the Dáil.
I did not raise it for discussion.
Exactly.
I gave my opinion and I will continue to do so while this country is in danger of suffering from the type of madness now taking place. Deputies will have an opportunity of discussing industrial relations generally on the two Bills circulated over the weekend. If they like, they can have that discussion next week. I should also like to say that the Fine Gael Party tried to condemn these Bills before they ever saw them, even though I denied their allegations.
It is a mistake to try to make capital out of this. We accepted the Taoiseach's recommendation that the matter should not be discussed here——
It was not discussed anywhere else either.
——or anywhere else, but the Minister went to a Fianna Fáil cumann and he there made a speech.
He is responsible for labour relations and he is expected to speak about labour relations. He it entitled to speak about them.
In deference to the Taoiseach's expressed view, the matter was not discussed here.
It was not discussed anywhere else either. The Minister exercised his authority to make a statement, with my express permission.
Then the Taoiseach should not have asked us not to talk about it.
There is a difference between discussion and a statement, surely, in a matter like this.
The Dáil should have been informed the matter was open for comment or discussion. We are just as anxious as the Taoiseach and the Minister to get a solution. Might I inquire, does the function of the Minister for Labour extend as far as the other existing dispute in the case of the secondary teachers? I notice in his reply he referred to only one aspect—industrial disputes.
Industrial disputes. I understand there is a question tabled which the Minister will answer when the time arises.
I have here before me the words of the Taoiseach himself. I quote from column 271 of Volume 238 of the Official Report:
I agree that forbearance at this time is wiser than that the House should debate the dispute....
Deputy Cosgrave replied:
And the lack of a discussion does not in any way lessen our concern at the situation?
And the Taoiseach's reply to that was:
On the contrary, I think discussing it now might worsen the situation.
I stand over that statement still. Discussion and a statement are two different things.
I want to ask the Minister for Labour—it is to him the question is addressed—is it not reducing this House to a dirty farce if a statement by the Minister for Labour on Government policy, when the whole country is grinding to an industrial halt, is to be made to a Fianna Fáil cumann in West Clare—and he is going to Navan to do the same thing tonight? I dare him to get up and discuss it with me. He is responsible for this dirty mess and he should be ashamed of it.
We cannot have a discussion on the matter now.
(Interruptions.)
You will not put me down.
This is disorderly. There is nothing before the House except a question.
That statement was made to a Fianna Fáil cumann.
Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
There is another meeting of a Chamber of Commerce in Navan tonight where he will discuss it again, because he is afraid to discuss it in the Parliament of the country. Is it any wonder——
We are afraid to discuss it, if it will bring forth expressions like the Deputy's.
What the hell——
(Interruptions.)
Will the Deputy let me speak? This House created the institutions whereby these disputes can be settled. These institutions are functioning and have not been fully pursued yet.
The Minister should say so to the House and not to a Fianna Fáil cumann in West Clare.
What is wrong with a Fianna Fáil cumann?
We were asked to be responsible and we were.
We depended on Fianna Fáil cumann before.
They are fomenting a strike now.
We are not fomenting a strike. It is you people over there.
Would you, Sir, remind Deputy Dillon that Dáil Éireann is not the Labour Court?
It is the Parliament of Ireland and you tend to forget it but you will not be let forget it.
Do not abuse it, Deputy.
In spite of Deputy MacEntee, it is the Parliament.
No Fianna Fáil cumann in West Clare will take its place.