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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Mar 1969

Vol. 239 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maintenance Dispute Inquiry.

43.

asked the Minister for Labour if he will indicate the nature and scope of the proposed inquiry into the maintenance dispute.

44.

asked the Minister for Labour if he will give details of the arrangements for his inquiry into the maintenance dispute; whether both the FUE and the unions will be asked to give evidence; and if he proposes to publish the final evidence.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Chomhairle, to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.

I have appointed Mr. Con Murphy to inquire into and report on the recent maintenance workers' strike. Mr. Murphy's terms of reference are:—

I. to inquire into the causes of the strike;

II. to make an estimate of the cost of the strike to the parties involved, directly and indirectly, and to the economy generally; and

III. to examine and report on the course of the negotiations, and the procedures and actions of the parties to the negotiations and of others concerned in the strike.

I have asked Mr. Murphy to submit, as early as possible, an interim report on Item II in the terms of reference. The Federated Union of Employers and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have each been asked to nominate two assessors to assist in the work of the inquiry. A public invitation to persons who may be in a position to help in the inquiry will be issued shortly.

It is intended to publish the report of the inquiry.

Could the Minister say if it is proposed in the terms of reference to permit Mr. Murphy to make recommendations on the basis of his findings? Is it proposed to hold the inquiry in public or is the procedure being left to the inquiry chairman?

I did not ask for recommendations. I expect that the information made available to us would, perhaps, have the effect of having recommendations made to this House or the courses of action open to trade unions made obvious to them. I did not ask Mr. Murphy to make any recommendations. I did not tie him down as regards holding the inquiry in public or in private. I presume he will decide on his own procedure in this matter. Some part of the inquiry would have to be in private because a great deal of valuable information would not, I think, be available to a public inquiry.

Does it not seem reasonable to expect that in an inquiry of this sort part of the value of it would be to get recommendations as to any suggested changes in procedure which might be advisable or desirable?

The Deputy may be aware that we have already had an inquiry in a Bord na Móna dispute and that there is one going on in the EI dispute at Shannon. There is an inquiry proceeding in the ESB dispute and now there is this one. From all these I think we shall get a considerable body of facts on procedures and behaviour in the use of procedures which would give this House and the trade union movement and employers generally a basis for improving the whole situation.

So long as we do not see the results——

Is the Minister aware that the previous investigation into Bord na Móna was not published?

I shall publish that. There was a delay but it will be published.

Are the talks going on at the moment between the Minister for Finance and the Congress and the employers part of this investigation into the recent maintenance dispute? The Minister for Labour is aware that the Minister for Finance has met Congress and is meeting the employers and that he made a statement last night? Does this indicate part of the Government's examination of the whole situation at the moment or is this separate?

The Deputy is making a statement in the form of a question. The Minister for Finance has tried to convince those concerned and the public at large of a serious problem which the Government have, impinging on his particular duties as Minister for Finance.

The Government have created that.

I do not think he made any attempt to investigate the dispute as such but he did try to anticipate the ill-effects of it and tried to protect the community from the worst effects of any consequence of the settlement of the dispute.

Does this indicate on the Government's part that they will now start looking into the advice of the NIEC some years ago to examine the whole question of incomes in the community, rents, profits, wages and salaries?

This does not arise on the question.

I think the House is aware that we have already declared our belief in the value of a board or body which would examine all incomes but we are conscious of the limitations that the findings of such a body could not be imposed on the community or any section of it.

The Government started the inflation and now they are reaping the fruit of it.

I once heard the Deputy boast in this House that he sent the country into bankruptcy and that he was proud of it.

Blatherskite. We built houses. We did not build skyscrapers to accommodate bureaucrats.

The Deputy boasted that he sent the country into bankruptcy.

That is untrue. You have now launched out on the road of inflation that may well wreck this country——

Will the Deputy allow Questions to continue?

I am trying to save the country from the disastrous type of situation that you brought about in 1956——

——and ran away from.

Ran away my foot.

(Interruptions.)

I am calling Question No. 45.

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