asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state, having regard to the sufferings inflicted on the public by stoppages of work in State-sponsored monopolies, what steps will be taken to improve industrial relations machinery in such concerns to obviate the need for workers to resort to stoppages in order to obtain improved conditions of employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Relations Machinery.
26.
It has already been announced that industrial relations machinery is under review. Pending the completion of the review, I am not in a position to say what action will be taken to lessen the incidence of strikes.
Can the Minister give any estimate as to how long the review will take? Will it be completed before the end of this year?
It depends on the co-operation of the employers' and employees' representatives, My predecessor has already set in train discussions and put forward certain proposals for the consideration of both sides. These have been, I gather, under consideration by both sides and I have recently let both sides know of my anxiety to speed up consideration. I have been informed by one side that they are almost ready and by the other that they will not be available for discussion until after 7th July.