Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2017
638. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will assist a group of persons (details supplied) in their dispute with their employer either directly or through the State's industrial relations agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8673/17]
View answerI understand that the dispute in question relates to issues over shift patterns and terms, job rotations and appointments, and has already led to four one-day stoppages at the plant concerned.
I also understand that after intervention by the Workplace Relations Commission the dispute has been referred to the Labour Court for hearing, and both parties have agreed to attend.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the State’s industrial relations machinery is available to assist in the resolution of this dispute. I would urge both parties to remain engaged with the State's industrial relations machinery in order to resolve their differences in this instance. Even what often appears to be an intractable dispute is capable of resolution where both sides engage constructively and in good faith in this voluntary process. The principle of good faith implies that both sides in a dispute make every effort to reach an agreement and endeavour, through genuine and constructive negotiations, to arrive at a conclusion that is satisfactory to all concerned.
