asked the Minister for Labour the total number of conciliation conferences held at the Labour Court during the first nine months of 1970; the total number of meetings involved; and the total number of settlements arising from such conferences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labour Court Conciliation Conferences.
75.
Conciliation conferences were held on 385 issues during the first nine months of 1970. These conferences led to settlements in 284 cases. The number of meetings was 688, excluding joint industrial council meetings.
May I ask the Minister whether he accepts that by virtue of the proposed legislation, drafted in haste and in stupidity by the Government, the whole future of the conciliation service of the Labour Court and the functions and role of the Labour Court will now be called into question and that this is likely to do irreparable damage to the future of industrial relations?
That seems to be outside the question.
I do not agree at all with that.
Does the Minister agree, in view of the fact that for the first nine months of this year conciliation conferences were held in regard to 385 issues, many of them dealing with intricate and complex wage considerations, and in which there were 284 settlements, that the blanket statutory control being introduced by the Minister for Finance, which it will be impossible to implement, will mean that the Labour Court's role will be either defunct or redundant or that it will be in a completely anomalous position?
No, I would rather contend that when we get over this period of constraint there will be a deeper appreciation of the work of the conciliation service and of the Labour Court. The Deputy knows that acceptances of Labour Court recommendations were almost as low as 50 per cent.
We will live to see the day. The Minister is in for a rude awakening.