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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 May 1988

Vol. 380 No. 6

Private Notice Question. - British Seamen's Strike.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will report on the measures he proposes to take in view of the rapidly escalating crisis facing exporters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Since my colleagues, Deputy John Wilson, Minister for Tourism and Transport answered questions on this matter on Tuesday last, there have been significant developments. Overnight, Sealink's Rosslare-Fishguard ferry service was restored.

Moreover, I have now been informed that the National Union of Seamen in the UK have called on their members who have been engaged in secondary picketing to resume work by noon tomorrow. Assuming compliance with this decision then, Sealink's services should recommence quickly, thus restoring Irish Sea ferry services to normal levels.

I can tell the House that damage to Irish exports has been of a limited nature although certain sectors have suffered some losses. I should mention that discussions involving all the interests affected by this dispute have been held over the past 48 hours. Arising from these discussions I have instructed CTT to establish a "clearing house" to identify air and sea capacity. This service is now in operation and will be available to exporters throughout the weekend, if necessary. There may be a backlog of traffic after the expected resumption of services but CTT's service will help to clear this.

I thank the Minister for the updated information in his reply. Will he clarify whether the resumption of the Sealink line — which I assume took place early this morning — means that the ports will be unblocked? Could he also outline whether he or the Minister for Industry and Commerce are taking any further steps or making contact with the British Government in regard to this matter?

The elements of the dispute which affected us are now over and our exports should return to normal within a matter of days. It is appropriate to keep alive the CTT service of matching capacity with exports until the backlog is cleared. So far as we are concerned, the dispute is over. Of course, it continues in the UK but that is a matter for them.

As I understand it, the instruction given by the NUS, which the Minister mentioned, was given because of a fine imposed on them by the High Court in London. There is obviously no guarantee that the instruction will be carried out. Will the Minister outline his contingency plans in the event of members of the union not carrying out the instruction?

This instruction has been given by the NUS to their members and my information is that the direction to resume work tomorrow will be complied with. Assuming it is, Irish exports will be back to normal as quickly as possible. I prefer, at this stage, to operate on that basis. We have had contingency plans in place for some days dealing with CITs matching private interests in exporting, with private capacity. However, I stress that that is purely a private sector contingency plan which I am encouraging and on which I am keeping an eye.

A final supplementary, from a general point of view, are there any lessons to be learned from this experience for this country? Can we ensure that measures will be taken which will avoid a catastrophe for this country in future?

The Deputy is correct in saying that there are lessons to be learned from a dispute like this. Obviously, one lesson is our vulnerability in such circumstances. The government will study the effects of this dispute and consider what initiatives, changes or directions we should adopt in our future access transport policy. If there are lessons to be learned we should study their implications and the Government will do that.

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