asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will make a statement on the functions of the Employer-Labour Conference, the composition of its membership; and if he feels it is an appropriate body as a mediator.
Written Answers. - Employer-Labour Conference.
22.
The function of the Employer-Labour Conference is to provide a forum for discussion and review of developments and problems in money incomes, prices and industrial relations.
The conference is a bi-partite body with an independent chairman agreed on by both sides. The employer side is composed of 26 employer members of whom five are nominated by the State in its capacity as employer and 21 are nominated by the Irish Employer Confederation and State-sponsored bodies. The labour side is composed of 26 labour members nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. In recent years industrial relations issues referred to the conference are considered by a steering committee comprising six labour side representatives, five employer side representatives and an independent chairman.
I am satisfied that the conference performs a useful function in its consideration and treatment of industrial relations issues generally.