andMr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Labour if he has any observations to make about the eight months old strike at Bray, County Wicklow (details supplied), arising from the dismissal of two machine operators because they sought a week's pay in advance of their Christmas holidays, and who are not yet reinstated notwithstanding the Labour Court Recommendation of 24th April, 1970, that all the workers should be reemployed; and if the Company proposed to accept and implement this recommendation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bray Company Strike.
33.
I am aware of the situation outlined in the first part of the Deputies' question.
This matter was the subject of a conciliation conference and then of a Labour Court investigation and the court recommended that the worker originally dismissed should be reinstated, as well as all the other workers, on his giving an assurance of satisfactory performance for the future.
Labour Court recommendations are not binding on the parties. The Deputies are, no doubt, aware that various suggestions for modifying this position have been put forward from time to time but did not meet with support, especially from trade unions.
My view is that all Labour Court recommendations, including that mentioned in the question, should be accepted by the parties concerned.
Would the Minister agree that, while all Members of the House would wish to see a settlement of this very prolonged dispute, it is no solution towards that settlement that a so-called fringe, self-appointed, paramilitary group known as Saor Éire should indulge in the adolescent and deplorable bomb attack on the particular employer concerned?
I thoroughly agree with the Deputy and I am glad he took this occasion to condemn that outrage. We have enough metaphorical bombs in our trade relations without having literal bombs thrown around.
Would the Minister request the Minister for Industry and Commerce to withdraw the large adaptation grant this company received until the Labour Court recommendation is implemented?
That is a separate question.
I do not think I would be empowered to do that.