asked the Minister for Labour the further measures, if any, he intends to take to help settle the industrial dispute at Dunnes Stores in Henry Street, Dublin, where a group of young workers have now been on strike for almost two years, following the suspension of a colleague for refusing to handle South African goods.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Dunnes Stores (Dublin) Dispute.
2.
On 25 March 1986 the Government decided to prohibit the importation of South African fruit and vegetables save under and in accordance with a licence issued by the Minister for Agriculture. An order to this effect will operate from 1 October 1986.
From 1 January 1987 no licences will be issued for the importation of South African fruit and vegetables unless the importer can show to the satisfaction of the Minister for Agriculture that the system under which prisoners are sent to serve their sentences working on privately owned farms, a system in contravention of international conventions, has ceased to operate in South Africa.
Following the Government decision, the Minister for Labour met the strikers and urged them to meet with their employer and endeavour to secure an agreed settlement to the dispute in the context of the Government's initiative. The form of action decided upon by the Government should ensure that the dispute can be resolved as soon as possible and that no victimisation or recrimination ensues.
The House will agree that both the Government and the Minister have spared no effort in trying to bring this long running and most difficult dispute to a satisfactory conclusion. I ask the parties to make every effort to get back into negotiations. The Labour Court and the conciliation service are available on request, should their assistance be required.
The Minister will be aware that the dispute arose in the first place because of the insistence of the management of Dunnes Stores that particular employees were obliged to handle South African goods. As the Minister has said, despite his best efforts to resolve the situation, it would appear that the management still insist that employees must handle South African goods. Would he not agree that it is time for him to use either his own offices of those of the agencies under his control to initiate talks between management and workers, so that the workers may exercise their conscientious objections to handling these goods?
I am sure the Deputy will agree that the Minister has been both concerned and active in this matter. Following the Government decision he met with the strikers and urged them to meet their employer and negotiate an amicable return to work. It is also important to note that from the date of 1 January 1987 no licences will issue unless the importer can give proof under the conditions laid down that work is not carried out by prisoners under the system in South Africa.
The point I wish to ask the Minister to consider is that the employer in this case continues to refuse to allow the young people involved in this dispute to exercise their conscience in this regard in that they will adamantly refuse to handle goods imported from South Africa, where this apartheid system is in operation. Would he not consider using his offices to assist the employer to reach a settlement with these young people so that they may return to work and retain their dignity?
I am aware of the concern of the Minister and Deputies will be aware of his interest in the matter. As I said previously, following the Government decision he met with the strikers and gave them every opportunity and encouragement to meet with the employer and negotiate an amicable return to work.
This question has been coming up for 18 months now in Question Time and I am glad that it has almost come to an end. Would the Minister of State ask the Minister, if he himself is not in a position to do so, to call on Mr. John Horgan, Chairman of the Labour Court, to bring both sides together at this stage to resolve the problem? To give advice to the workers who have been on strike for such a long time to go to the employer in the circumstances is not sufficient. Would he consider calling on the Chairman of the Labour Court to bring both sides together for discussions?
I shall consider that suggestion and convey it to the Minister. No doubt he will reply directly to the Deputy.