asked the Taoiseach whether his attention has been drawn to a recent editorial in Liberty Magazine in which it is stated that the trade union movement has not been informed as to the possible consequences on employment arising out of the application for entry to the EEC; whether he will arrange for an analysis of the employment areas which will be hardest hit in free trade conditions; and whether he will ensure that full consultation will take place with the trade unions on the basis of such analysis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
1.
I have seen the editorial referred to in the question. As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is involved in the examination of industries being carried out by the Committee on Industrial Progress which was established to assess the progress made by Irish industry in its preparation for free trade conditions. Representatives of Congress participate also in the annual industrial reviews. Employment is necessarily a factor in the issues arising in the course of these investigations in which there is continuing consultation with trade unions.
If, in any particular area of industry, there emerges evidence of a serious threat to employment, the Government will investigate the situation and do all in their power to ensure either that employment is maintained or that alternative employment is provided. It is the aim of Government policy to anticipate, so far as possible, problems of this kind by encouraging and assisting existing industries to adapt to free trade conditions and by providing increased employment opportunities through the establishment of new industries.
The same editorial refers to the fact that workers were not being helped one iota by the Government as to what they could expect in the EEC. Would the Taoiseach agree that the main problem is fear of unemployment, unexpected unemployment amongst the trade unions, something like what happened in relation to Booth Pooles today? They are not aware that any serious investigation has been undertaken by the Government to which they were party and which would alert them to the possibility of unemployment arising out of our application for entry into the EEC.
The kernel of the Deputy's question is the alleged lack of consultation with the trade unions. Apart from the examination through the Committee on Industrial Progress to which I referred, there was a briefing session in September between the Department of Finance and other groups on which the Congress of Trade Unions was represented. An attempt was made again in December to reconvene another briefing session but the representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions asked that this briefing session be postponed because they were pre-occupied with other problems. Apart from that, there is ample scope within the Department of Finance and the Department of External Affairs for further briefing sessions for information. If the Deputy would care to suggest to his colleagues, or to his colleague who wrote that editorial, who is a former Labour TD—an editorial which has its undertones of sarcasm and politics—that this means of access is available if they want further information——
If the Taoiseach has anything to say to the General Secretary of the Transport Union he may do so in writing. Have the Government in their possession at this time any detailed figures as to potential unemployment arising out of our application? The kernel of the fear of the Irish trade unions is that the Government are in possession of unemployment figures which they have at their disposal and are not sharing with the trade unions.
That is not true. The Committee on Industrial Progress has already examined five industries and five more are under direct examination. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is represented at that examination. The purpose is to highlight the extent of unemployment and the possibilities of new employment. They are involved partly through this examination. I cannot see what the burden of the Deputy's complaint is.
Is the Taoiseach therefore saying that he is being completely frank with the Irish trade unions in respect of possible unemployment arising out of our application?
We are certainly not hiding anything from the trade unions or anyone else.
Would the Taoiseach agree that one of our problems arises from the deficiencies in the Government White Paper in its industrial section which is in marked contrast to the agricultural section which is both full and supplemented by a separate publication? Would he agree that it would be helpful if at this stage there were a publication on industry and the EEC which would discuss the problems of individual industries, using for that purpose the information coming from the CIO and the COIP?
As the Deputy is probably aware, a series of pamphlets will be issued and the Deputy's suggestion in so far as there has been any deficiency will certainly be considered to see if the deficiency can be made up.
Had the Government information in advance about the closing down of Booth Pooles?
That is a separate question.
It is a separate question and it has nothing to do with the EEC.
It is part of the collapse before we go into the EEC.
Question No. 2.