asked the Minister for Labour the progress which has been made in relation to the establishment of sub-board democratic structures in the State sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sub-board Arrangements.
23.
The Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act, 1988, provides for the introduction of sub-board participative arrangements in a wide range of State bodies. My Department organised a briefing day for officials of the State enterprises concerned to outline the provisions of the Act and to inform them of their responsibilities under the Act. I am satisfied that as a result significant progress will be made in the area of sub-board participative arrangements in the State sector in the next few years.
I am aware that sub-board arrangements have been introduced, or are about to be introduced, in a number of State enterprises concerned. Under the Act, all the enterprises specified must describe in their annual reports, beginning this year, any action which has been taken to introduce sub-board arrangements and any participative agreement made during the year. A more detailed picture will be available early next year as these reports come on stream.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Whereas I agree that the Act so provides, has there not been a great dragging of feet on the question of the introduction of sub-head democratic structures and, in some of the large semi-State companies in particular, can the question of membership of the board of directors not be a very long way indeed from the factory floor? It is a matter of urgency that provision be made and those companies ought to be exhorted by whatever measures are necessary to cause these sub-board mechanisms to be made operable.
We had a conference earlier in the year. The Department intend to pursue it. Aer Lingus, Bord Gáis, BTE, CERT, EOLAS, ESB, FÁS, Great Southern Hotels, Irish Steel and SFADCo, have moved out of the 36 and we are hoping that some others we are not yet aware of have done so. We intend in the appropriate section of the Department to pursue the reports early in the new year.