asked the Minister for Supplies whether he will state the nature and terms of the arrangements regarding the employment of labour at the Port of Limerick entered into with Grain Importers (Éire) Limited: whether he is aware that in connection with the discharge of certain cargoes of grain recently the firm in question refused to comply with the terms of a local agreement providing for the employment of dockers to discharge certain grain vessels, and that they defended their violation of the agreement on the grounds that they were acting as agents of his Department and therefore were unable to comply with its provisions; and whether, in the circumstances, he will issue to Grain Importers an instruction that it is not in the public interest to ignore or contravene the terms of existing agreements freely entered into between employers and workers concerning conditions of employment.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Labour at Limerick Port.
The responsibility for making arrangements for the discharge of the cargoes to which the Deputy refers does not rest either with my Department or with Grain Importers (Éire) Limited. I have, however, made inquiries and I am informed that a local agreement was made in Limerick between dockers and stevedores very many years ago which provided, inter alia, that should two ships arrive at the same time, one would be discharged by hand. The Deputy will appreciate that conditions have materially altered since that agreement was made and even if the necessary gear were available in Limerick to discharge grain vessels by hand, the adoption of any such arrangement would involve delay which could not now be countenanced in view of the absolute necessity for securing quick discharge of vessels bringing cargoes of grain and other essential commodities to our ports. If any serious attempt were to be made to enforce such an agreement at Limerick, steps would have to be taken to ensure that in future not more than one vessel would arrive in Limerick for discharge at any one time.