Mary O'Rourke
Question:225 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to intervene in the Irish Life dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3111/97]
Written Answers. - Irish Life Dispute.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the dispute between the company and personal finance advisers of the company, regarding management's proposals to restructure the salesforce in order to improve the competitiveness of Irish Life in the marketplace.
The company and the Manufacturing, Science and Finance trade union, representing the majority of the saleforce affected, have availed of the services of the Labour Relations Commission the services of the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court in their efforts to resolve the difficulties that have arisen from the company's proposals.
I understand that the personal finance advisers have rejected a recent Labour Court recommendation on the dispute. It is disappointing that, to date, the parties have been unable to utilise the recommendation of the Labour Court as a means to resolve their dispute. I have stated to the House on previous occasions that it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in such industrial disputes, as intervention could only help undermine the role of the State's dispute settling agencies. I have full confidence in the services and expertise provided by these agencies.
The responsibility for the resolution of this dispute rests with the parties directly concerned. I take this opportunity to urge the parties to continue their efforts to reach a settlement of this dispute, which is not in the interests of the company, its workforce or its customers.