asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will arrange that compromise proposals will be worked out between the Office of Public Works and employees at the Houses of the Oireachtas and adjoining buildings to ensure that heating is restored on a full-time basis as quickly as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Houses of Oireachtas Heating.
19.
Stokers at the central heating station have taken industrial action in furtherance of claims for special increases in addition to the standard increases of the national agreement which these workers have already received. The claims are for improved overtime and shift rates.
As I explained to the House in my financial statement of 28th January last, the Government have reluctantly come to the conclusion that, in present circumstances, they have no option but to defer consideration until at least the end of 1976 of all outstanding claims for special increases subject to a strictly limited number of clearly defined exceptions —none of which covers this particular case. There is, therefore, unfortunately, no scope for compromise proposals as suggested.
On behalf of the Government, I have already urged unions and associations representing public sector employees to play their part in enabling the country to overcome its present financial and economic difficulties by leaving in abeyance claims for special increases.
I would like to take this opportunity to appeal again to the workers concerned in the present dispute to resume normal working and to defer their claims while the present economic and financial difficulties continue.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state if this dispute is official or unofficial and if the unions are repressenting their men?
The dispute is official.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House of the actual position in relation to heating in the House? Sometimes it goes off earlier than at other times. Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what is the present work-to-rule arrangement?
The Deputy must be getting cold feet.
The Government have made their decision. We are again appealing to these people to defer their claim until the end of the year.
That is not what I am asking.
It is as much as I can give the Deputy.
I am asking what is the present arrangement; I am not asking about the dispute.
I will give a copy to the Deputy if he wishes. It is a very long list and if I had to read it out it would take me 30 minutes.
I am calling Question No. 20.