Vol. 289 No. 8
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that wholetime fire brigade personnel in County Galway have issued strike notice for 12th April, 1976, unless sanction to their claim is granted by his Department before that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9.
asked the Minister for Local Government why he has not yet sanctioned a claim for improvement in conditions for County Galway wholetime fire brigade personnel; and if he has already sanctioned a similar claim to Limerick wholetime fire brigade personnel.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
The claim on behalf of the Limerick fire brigade referred to by the Deputy, was conceded by Limerick Corporation in June, 1975, and was sanctioned by me in January last. In December last, Galway County Council advised my Department of a claim on behalf of Galway firemen. The matter has since been the subject of correspondence between the county council and my Department.
I am aware that strike notice has been served by the firemen on Galway County Council. I do not, therefore, consider that a statement by me would be helpful at this stage.
Does the Minister's Department accept that there is an agreement between Galway County Council and the union representing these men which gives parity with Limerick firemen to Galway wholetime firemen and that, having conceded the claim to Limerick firemen and applying parity, surely there should be no delay in sanctioning this claim?
There is not actual parity but there is a relationship or there appears to be a relationship between the two. In one case there was agreement before the date on which special claims were stopped. The other claim did not come in until afterwards. I am suggesting that Galway County Council should refer the case to the Labour Court. If the Labour Court recommend it, it then fits into the category in which it can be paid; otherwise it would be a breach of an arrangement that has been made.
Is the Minister saying that the claim lodged by Galway came after the Government directive? I understood both claims were lodged in May, 1975.
In the case of Galway the claim was lodged on 20th May, 1975, and on 27th February by Limerick. Actually, what matters is when it was processed and it was not processed or accepted by Galway Corporation until after the June arrangement. In the case of Limerick it was accepted before June. There is, therefore, a very big difference in the two issues. If both had been before 26th June the difficulty would not arise. I am suggesting an easy way out in the hope that this will solve the problem.
Surely the Minister will accept that Galway County Council would not process the claim until they knew the outcome of the Limerick claim in view of the parity arrangement?
There was no reason why they should have held it up anymore than Limerick would wait until Galway had decided. They were both in the same position if they felt there was a real parity and, therefore, each of them could have processed their claim at the one time as often happens.
I understand that the parity arrangement is between the union representing Galway wholetime firemen and Galway County Council. Is the Minister stating that there is a similar arrangement in Limerick whereby the firemen there have parity with Galway? I understood that parity arrangement only existed in Galway and that Limerick was the authority.
Had Galway got the increase I am sure Limerick would have claimed parity.
We must proceed; this is turning into a debate.
I am not aware that Limerick have a similar agreement with their unions.
I do not know either but as it is the same union that is involved I imagine they would have made the same application if the position had been reversed.
Would the Minister agree that that must be the reason why Galway County Council did not proceed to process the claim? They were awaiting the outcome of the decision on the Limerick claim.
We are having a serious deviation from the procedure at Question Time.
This is most important; we are going to have a strike of firemen.
I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude but he insists on more and more. We must pass on.
The Chair should permit the Minister to answer my last question.
We will have to avert a strike of firemen.
There have been strikes of firemen before as the Deputy is aware and the fact that firemen go on strike does not make the settling of their case any easier.
Is the Minister anxious that the firemen go on strike? Is he encouraging them?
I possibly have a lot more sympathy with the members of the brigade than Deputy Fitzgerald would have with ordinary working class people.
It does not seem that way.
The Minister's sympathy can be found on every house door.
I am not anxious to have a strike and I have suggested a solution.
We must get on to the next question.
