asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the terms of reference of the new review body set up to investigate the workings of the Labour Court.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labour Court Review Body.
16.
The body's terms of reference are to review the role and functions of the Labour Court in the light of changes which have taken place in the climate of industrial relations since the establishment of the court in 1946 and having regard to the additional responsibilities placed on the court by recent legislative measures.
Would the Minister not agree that if he regarded such a review as being necessary it should have been instituted and carried out before any changes were made in the staff or personnel at the head of the Labour Court? Secondly, excellent though the person is, does he regard it as a sensible move to set up a review body under the chairmanship of the existing chairman of the body being investigated rather than under a neutral chairman who would be able to give a less involved appraisal or report on the situation?
On reflection I think the Deputy will accept that the review body is not set up to investigate the court.
To review.
The body is set up to review its functions in the light of the conditions obtaining after its foundation.
There is no difference there.
I merely make the point that investigation is what the court does itself in relation to trade disputes. There is no trade dispute. We are simply reviewing the functions of a body——
Of course, under the chairman of the body rather than under a person further removed.
Nearly 30 years after the Act which set up the court was passed by the Oireachtas. An opportune time to begin that review it seemed to me was at the changeover period between one chairman and another in the service of the court. Maurice P. Cosgrave came in as chairman after Mr. Cahill had departed. I thought that was the appropriate time. All I have done in this respect has been done in consultation with the unions, employers and the court itself.
Are there any terms of reference given to the body to review the suitability of the Minister's recent appointments to the court?
The terms of reference are to consider the functions of the court in the light of the changes which have taken place in the climate of industrial relations and to consider the effectiveness of the court as an institution in today's conditions 30 years after its foundation.
Would the Minister not accept that the setting-up of this review body at this stage is regarded generally as a whitewashing operation for his own political appointments to the body, thus interfering with the independence the court has maintained and which successive Governments have maintained for the court over the years?
There have been no appointments made by me to the Labour Court which have been swayed by political considerations.