I have given permission to Deputy Fitzsimons to raise the matter of the Tara Mines dispute on the adjournment. It has been agreed that Deputy Fitzsimons will speak for ten minutes and the Minister will reply for five minutes.
Adjournment Debate. - Tara Mines Dispute.
I want to thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for giving me this facility to raise this very important and crucial issue. I should like to thank the Minister for Labour for giving us 15 minutes at such short notice at this late stage of the night. I felt this morning on the Order of Business that I should raise this matter because it is of such crucial importance. It is an open secret that, if this strike is not settled this week, there is a possibility that Tara could close down in the very near future. A statement was issued this evening that the mine would be on a care and maintenance basis from 1 January next. A meeting is being held in Navan in the hope that, even at this eleventh hour when the issue is on the brink, the situation may be resolved.
The effect of this strike will be not only local but also international. It is horrifying to think that 1,000 people are directly affected by this strike in Tara. Approximately 140 craft workers and 850 other workers are involved. I cannot quantify the figure exactly but, apart from that, possibly another 1,000 people are indirectly involved in many companies which supply Tara: engineering companies, electrical companies, mining and cable companies, on the ground equipment companies, Cement Roadstone Limited, oil companies, the ESB, Posts and Telegraphs, companies who supply fork lift trucks and even ribbons for typewriters. Because of the security situation and the presence of dynamite a full-time Garda force is there when the mines are in operation. Many of those gardaí have been transferred temporarily to other areas since the strike began.
I did not raise this matter before today because I felt, like other politicians in the constituency, that the very sophisticated machinery in the Labour Court to deal with modern disputes could solve the issue and that reason, tolerance, commonsense and goodwill would prevail. They have not, and that is why I thought somewhere somebody must stand up and say: "Stop, we must arrest the situation before we have another Ferenka on our hands". This dispute affects not only County Meath but also other parts of the country. Industries were set up specifically to supply that mine with equipment. There is an industry in Shannon. There is an industry in the industrial estate in Navan and there is another industry in Dublin. These will all be affected. People from Silvermines and Tynagh come up to work in Tara. Counties far away from Meath will be affected. The retail outlets in County Meath will be badly affected. Many of them have been feeling the pinch over the past six months.
We cannot afford another Ferenka. Our industry was badly damaged internationally by the Ferenka dispute. We must try to solve this problem even at this eleventh hour. If the Labour Court machinery has broken down, somebody in the Government must try to do something. I am not being political when I say that, because we would be in Government but for a few quirks in the PR system. The Government have a 25 per cent stake in Tara. Therefore this dispute involves the Government as a whole, the Minister for Energy and the Minister for Labour.
In Navan we have had a proud record in our industrial relations for many years. It is 30 years since we had a strike in the furniture industry. We have had very happy industrial relations in the carpet factory. I fear that the unhappy industrial relations we have had in Tara for some time will rub off on us in Navan and in County Meath in general, where we have had a good track record. I hope the tolerance, goodwill and commonsense I mentioned will prevail ultimately.
We have been affected to some extent in our efforts to attract other industries to Navan because of the situation in the mining industry. I do not say that in a derogatory way. When our county development team, the politicians and the IDA tried to attract industry to the area we were asked: "How can we compete with the mining industry?" The mining industry is welcome in any area once it provides jobs and good employment. It is beneficial industry. I hope that the unhappy industrial relations situation we have experienced from time to time will come to an end rather than have this mine closed. You know, Sir, as well as I do that when something closes down, whether it be a hospital, a factory, a mine or whatever, it becomes then much more difficult to reopen. You allowed me raise this matter on the Adjournment, Sir, so that I might implore the Government to do all in their power to arrest this situation before it becomes a disaster not alone for Navan but for the county and for the country in general.
Deputy John Farrelly would like just two minutes because of his special interest in the area.
On a point of order, would the Ceann Comhairle please indicate to me the precedent for time being split in the reply to a question on the Adjournment?
Because the Minister was giving precedence to this case instead of another this evening — there was another case also — this was decided at the last moment. Normally it would have been a 20-minute speech by the Deputy and ten minutes for reply. But Deputy John Farrelly asked if he could speak for two minutes. We have done it before and there is no precedent being created by allowing him in these circumstances, because we are still within the time limit for it.
I am not questioning your ruling, Sir. I was wondering if it is normal procedure. Normally the Minister replies. In a situation as serious as this one would have expected that the Minister for Labour would have needed all his time.
Yes, Deputy Flynn, but Deputy John Farrelly would have concluded by now if allowed.
On a point of order, I understood that a motion on the Adjournment was raised by the appropriate Deputy, or the Deputy who raised the issue, and that nobody other than he could concede any time.
That is incorrect, Deputy. In fact anybody can stand up if there is time remaining — anybody can stand up and make a contribution. The peculiar circumstances on this occasion were that, while the Deputy had been granted permission, there were a number of matters to be raised on the Adjournment and his was not chosen. But because of the urgency of the matter and, in the Deputy's interest, I thought he should be given precedence. I switched it to suit the Deputy. Deputy Farrelly wanted to make a two-minute contribution only. I do not think he is imposing too much on the time of the House. Perhaps we could all be gracious and permit him to speak for two minutes about this situation and the Minister will then reply.
I want to thank you, Sir, for allowing me these two short minutes, Indeed, I would now be finished had not the other two Deputies interrupted.
I should like to support my colleague, Deputy Fitzsimons, on this grave situation which has obtained now for six months and which appears to be coming to a head in the form of the closure of the Tara Mines at Navan. This will have an enormous effect on the town, the county and the constituency I represent. It will have enormous effect on the families involved and on the town of Navan itself. I should never like to see Navan become a dead town and that is what will happen if the Tara Mines dispute is allowed to continue and the mine close.
I sincerely hope something can be done, even at this final hour, to ensure that the jobs in Tara Mines are maintained, that the mine will be allowed to remain open. I would hope between management, staff and the Government, whatever else may prevail, that the goodwill in this festive season over the next two days will ensure that this prospective closure does not take place.
The best miners in the place are from County Cavan.
And from Louth.
The history of this dispute goes back to August 1980. In August 1980 a relativity claim was made by craftsmen in the Tara Mines, claiming relativity, including a bonus, with miners and also relativity with other grades in the mine. A full hearing of the Labour Court on 25 March 1981 held that there was no basis for either the claim for relativity or bonus. As a result of that, from March to June 1981, direct negotiations took place intermittently between the unions and management. I am afraid no result emanated from those discussions. As result of that an overtime ban was imposed in June and a number of men suspended. Unofficial action was taken as a result of that. Later, in the month of July, this unofficial action was made official. On 27 July 1981 the company and the unions met and had discussions when once again no progress was made. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions became involved later on and for several months discussions continued, as also did the official action.
As no finality was reached, on 27 November last a conciliation conference was held. The official side offered £21 per week to craftsmen working underground and £11 per week to craftsmen working on the surface, the shifts to rotate as between surface and underground. This offer was turned down by the negotiating committee but was not put to a ballot of the men. On 9 December 1981 another conciliation conference was held under the aegis of the Department of Labour, when again no progress resulted.
Last evening the company told the men that the mine would be put on a care and maintenance basis from 1 January next. This will result in the laying-off of over 1,000 men and the employment of something between 30 and 40 men only. Today at 2.30 p.m. the parish priest of Navan, Father Farrell, chaired a meeting between management and unions. My latest information is that talks are still continuing. I am reluctant to prejudice any hopeful result by anything I might say further about the history of this dispute. We can only hope that these discussions will be successful. I understand that the atmosphere at these talks has been helpful and that there is some hope that an agreement can be reached. In any event, my Department have arranged a conciliation conference for Friday next, which will take place, if required, and both sides may so request.
I am very concerned about the closure of Tara Mines. We are all aware that this is a very important enterprise, not only for the immediate area but for the whole economy. Therefore I would not like to prejudice any good result which might emerge from the present discussions. My Department have at all times been prepared to intervene, although unfortunately on occasions they have not been asked. Should it be necessary they will be prepared to intervene on Friday next. I hope this will not be necessary but the Department of Labour will be available.
The Dáil adjourned at 10.50 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 17 December 1981.