asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce why he did not refer the shipping dispute to the Labour Court in the first instance instead of to the Chief Executive Officer, Dublin Vocational Schools, and thus avoid three weeks loss of employment to the shipping companies and to Dublin port workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shipping Dispute.
Under the Industrial Relations Act, 1946, it was open to any of the parties concerned to bring the dispute before the Labour Court at any time. In this case the court intervened on its own initiative, on 29th January.
The dispute was initially the subject of discussions between the parties, held under the auspices of the Congress of Irish Unions. On 7th January, 1958, I was informed by the Congress that the three parties to the dispute had agreed to a truce to enable negotiations to take place, and they requested me to nominate a negotiator, which I did.
Why did the Minister not refer the matter to the Labour Court?
The Deputy misunderstands the situation. There is no question of the Minister for Industry and Commerce referring disputes to the Labour Court. Any of the parties can do so or the court can intervene on its own initiative.