Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 May 1978

Vol. 306 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labour Disputes.

2.

Mr. Mitchell

asked the Taoiseach the number of man-days lost through labour disputes for each of the past 12 months.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. P. Lalor)

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the required information for the months of 1977. Full details of industrial disputes which occurred in the first months of 1978 are not yet available.

Following is the statement:

Number of man-days lost through Industrial Disputes in each month in the year 1977.

Month	Number of Man-Days Lost
January 1977	21,032
February 1977	13,541
March 1977	69,241
April 1977	46,703
May 1977	59,096
June 1977	33,027
July 1977	20,274
August 1977	35,029
September 1977	31,796
October 1977	48,394
November 1977	45,528
December 1977	13,336
Total	436,997

Mr. Mitchell

Perhaps the Minister can give us the total number of man days lost in the last six months of 1977 and the percentage of those which were due to unofficial disputes?

Mr. P. Lalor

The 12-monthly figures which were requested by the Deputy are set out in the tabular statement and totalled. I have no total for the last six months.

Mr. Mitchell

Perhaps the Minister would help by reading out the totals for each of the six-month periods of last year?

Mr. P. Lalor

It is unusual.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Minister has circulated a tabular statement.

Mr. Mitchell

The Minister will appreciate that it would facilitate the asking of supplementary questions, regardless of the figures which the Minister refuses to give the House.

Mr. P. Lalor

I am giving them.

Mr. Mitchell

Perhaps the Minister will give them to me now.

Mr. P. Lalor

I am circulating the figures and that has been the normal practice. It seems the Deputy is unaware of that fact.

Mr. Mitchell

We know that the figures are exceedingly high, but can the Minister tell the House what action the Government have taken to solve any one of the disputes?

Mr. P. Lalor

The total for the second six months of last year is less than the total for the first six months.

Mr. Mitchell

The Minister of State should read the figures for each of the 12 months to facilitate the House.