asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if he will make a statement on the decision of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions not to enter into talks for a further national wage agreement; if the Government propose to take steps to have talks restarted; and if the Government, failing an agreement, are contemplating statutory controls.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Wage Agreement.
6.
In the light of the decision of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, it would be inappropriate for the Government to take steps to initiate talks for a further national wage agreement at this juncture. For the majority of workers the present agreement will not expire until the end of May 1979. The details of subsequent policies have yet to be evolved but it is clear that they will have to be geared towards achieving a considerably lower rate of wage increase than has actually emerged under the 1978 Agreement. The attitudes of employers and the trade union movement will have a major influence on Government policies on wage developments. While the possibility of statutory controls cannot be ruled out, the Government are not contemplating such controls at this time.
Would the Minister accept that a free-for-all would be disastrous for industrial relations and for our economic prospects next year?
The Government have always stated their preference for orderly development on the incomes front. On a number of occasions the Government have made it clear that they are willing not simply to continue national wage agreements in the structure in which they have developed since their introduction in 1970 but that they wish to see them developed in any manner which would lead to a more constructive resolution of issues in the incomes area. I recognise that a pure free-for-all in the situation, as the Deputy suggests, would be undesirable if only from the point of view that such situations are seldom free and are rarely for all.
Would the Minister acknowledge that the Government have a positive role to play in this matter? Would he acknowledge that there has been a clawback effect on wage increases in the present agreement because of tax, social insurance and inflation?
That is pure argument. Question Time is for the purpose of eliciting information, not for creating debating points. The Deputies on both sides of the House who put down questions to elicit information are the sufferers in this situation.
Would the Chair agree that we would not be forced to pursue this line if we were given answers?
Is the Deputy alleging that I have failed to answer questions that were put to me and, if so, would he indicate the nature of the question?
The Ceann Comhairle made a general statement and I replied to that general statement.
Does the Minister not see that the Government have a positive role to play in future agreements of a centralised nature? That it is senseless for taxation policy, social insurance policy, and prices policy to be different from wage policy? That there is a need to blend them? Therefore would the Government not take a positive initiative with the social partners to discuss the future of centralised pay bargains?
I recognise the Government's role in this area and that at the appropriate time a Government could and indeed might well put forward proposals in these areas. It has been done in the past and no doubt will be done in the future. As I indicated in the reply, I did not think it appropriate that any initiative should be taken at this juncture.
Would the Minister not agree that the appropriate time to take the initiative on the part of the Government would be before the budget, not after it? Is he not aware——
I must point out to the Deputy that this is not seeking information; it is debating a point with the Minister and it is not in order. I hope the Deputy sees my point. I am not trying to be partisan or to muzzle Deputies but we must distinguish between debate and question. What the Deputy is saying is a debateable point on which he is seeking argument. I must keep order.