asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider restructuring the Labour Court and its conciliation and arbitration services on a regional basis in an effort to expedite and provide a greater local knowledge for its negotiating machinery.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labour Court Negotiating Machinery.
11.
I have completed a review of our industrial relations structures including that of the Labour Court and its Conciliation Service and I intend introducing amending legislation in due course. The proposals will include a provision to appoint at least one extra division of the Labour Court.
Under existing arrangements, individual industrial relations officers are allocated to provincial as well as Dublin areas, travelling where necessary to hold conciliation conferences. Under this system the personnel of the service maintain close contact with union officials and personnel officers in all parts of the country.
Does the Minister consider that a regional base in a southern or a western area with more local contact would not in fact be a help? As he is aware one of the problems in a local area particularly is break-down in communications and special difficulties experienced. Would he not agree that a more knowledgeable approach on a local basis would assist in industrial relations through the machinery of the Labour Court?
The direction we should take is that the industrial relations officer should be well acquainted with a sector of industry or a particular service. If the Deputy is referring to that kind of knowledge that is essential, and it is not necessary that that is gained in a regional context, it could be equally claimed that too much regional or local connection might disqualify an industrial relations officer from being so effective. It is an Irish trait, as the Deputy knows, not to have much faith in the local man.
Is the Minister saying that his idea in the restructuring might be on categorising of particular industries under one umbrella?