I wish to allocate one minute of my time to Deputy Gregory.
Adjournment Debate. - Dublin Port Deep Sea Sector Closure.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
The deep sea section of Dublin Port has been closed for some time and all indications are that it will remain closed indefinitely if urgent action is not taken by the Minister — or by someone on his behalf — very quickly. The position is that 220 workers from the port have been made redundant and the livelihood of many others has been jeopardised. The longer this situation is let drag on the more difficult it will be to get the port reopened and up and running.
Dublin needs its deep sea port; it is in the traditions of Dublin that the port should operate and provide a service for the business community of Dublin and its hinterland who need it very badly. The trade unions and the dock workers also need it. There is also a serious danger that if the position is allowed to drag on indefinitely EC grant aid for the port could be put in jeopardy. There is a danger that if the matter is not regarded as top priority by the Minister, other arrangements for imports and exports will be made by business people in the Dublin area and the important need for Dublin Port will be dissipated which means that, if at a future date a decision was made to reopen the port, it might be too late. Time is of the essence.
I understand that there may be some suggestion of selling the interest of the Dublin Port and Docks Board or Dublin Cargo Handling, whichever is interested in the course of the liquidation, to some other stevedoring company. I emphasise that that is not a solution to the problem because, one way or the other, arrangements will have to be made with the unions and the workers to hammer out an acceptable working agreement. That must be possible in this day and age if reason prevails on both sides.
I ask the Minister to recognise in this House the urgency of the matter and that time is passing. It is up to him to send in a senior official from his Department — or a person who would be acceptable as a mediator to both sides — to discuss the issues involved with a view to securing the reopening of the deep sea section of Dublin Port. A very substantial amount of public money — about £10 million — has been invested in the port since 1982 and the Labour Party do not want to see that money dissipated in private hands who will decimate the rights of workers and trade unionists to earn their living as they have done from time immemorial.
There are 220 families anxiously awaiting the outcome of this dispute. They are hoping that the Minister will intervene at this late stage. The men who lost their jobs have a long tradition of service to Dublin Port, despite the smears against them. For generations their families depended on the port as their only means of livelihood. It is essential, for future peace in the port, that a negotiated settlement is reached between these men and the port board before the new stevedores take over in a few weeks' time.
A very serious conflict could arise if any attempt is made by divisive tactics to try to turn worker against worker, which would result in taking on a greatly reduced workforce. That attempt is doomed to failure; the men and their unions will not allow it to succeed. I sincerely hope that the continued delay in the payment of the men's statutory redundancies is not another deliberate tactic to make them weak and vulnerable.
I appeal to the Minister not to stand back from this dispute. He should act now and bring the two sides together to reach an agreed solution. Unless that is done now, there is little likelihood of any lasting peace in the port.
The Deputies must appreciate that the matter is in the hands of the liquidator appointed by the High Court at present. Deputy Gregory said that he hoped I would intervene even at this late stage. I intervened and got the parties back to the Labour Relations Commission but, unfortunately, to no avail. My intervention was not of any benefit at that stage. I am, naturally, still concerned about the situation. I should like the Deputies to be clear in that regard. The current closure of the deep sea sector of Dublin Port is regrettable. I am anxious that that sector of the port be back in operation as soon as possible.
As the Deputies will appreciate, the closure of the deep sea sector was inevitable following the appointment by the High Court of a liquidator on 6 April last to wind up the operations of Dublin Cargo Handling Ltd. — DCH — a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dublin Port and Docks Board. I will set out briefly the background and the events which led up to the closure.
The Dublin Port and Docks Board's functions as laid down by the Harbours Act, 1946, are the care, management and superintendence of the port of Dublin including stevedoring arrangements for the deep sea sector of the port. Commercial seaports must provide a fast, efficient, competitive and reliable service. A viable and cost-efficient port service at Dublin Port is absolutely essential for its future and for the future economic development of its industrial hinterland in Dublin. It is also crucial for the competitiveness of the industrial, agricultural and service industries which use Dublin Port for freight, both inwards and outwards.
In the deep sea sector of the port, DCH incurred losses totalling almost £18 million in the period 1982 to 1991. I am advised by Dublin Port and Docks Board that the elimination of restrictive and outdated working practices and the introduction of normal industrial working conditions are essential to the provision of a quality cost-effective service for port users and for the future viability of the deep sea sector of the port.
Dublin Port and Docks Board considered all the options available to them in reaching their decision to proceed with the liquidation of DCH. It is a matter of regret to me that lengthy talks under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission prior to 6 April last failed to yield an agreement on a labour rationalisation programme and new working practices and that the dock labour force did not avail of the opportunity to ballot on the deal which was on offer.
Dublin Port is a major source of employment. It employs over 500 people directly and over 5,000 people who are employed in the port area in port-related business. A substantial number of people are employed outside the port in business directly related to the port and its activities, such as freight arrangements, haulage and service industries, container manufacturing, storage and leasing. Exports through the port generate a large number of jobs.
I am advised by Dublin Port and Docks Board that negotiations are at an advanced stage with a number of interested parties to license a number of private stevedoring companies for the operation of cargo and freight handling in the deep sea sector of the port. It is the intention of the Dublin Port and Docks Board that this sector, which accounts for over one quarter of the freight throughput at the port, will become fully operational as quickly as possible. The board anticipate that the service will recommence towards the end of this month following the approval by the board of appropriate licence arrangements.
I understand the concern of Deputies. I, too, am concerned and will do anything within my power.