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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Apr 1978

Vol. 305 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telecommunications Dispute.

2.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the up-to-date position regarding the industrial dispute in the telecommunications section of his Department; if he has taken any new initiative to resolve the problem, since the recent Dáil debate on the matter; and if he now proposes to take any action on the matter.

3.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has had further talks with the ICTU on the telecommunications dispute; if so, if he will make a statement on these talks; if not, if he has any plans for an immediate meeting; and if he will make a statement on the up-to-date position.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.

As I stated in the Dáil debate on 5 April, I had indicated to the Irish Post Office Engineering Union on 31 March that I would be happy to meet the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for any necessary clarification of the proposals put forward and strongly recommended by the Congress last month for ending the industrial action. The union executive contacted the executive council of congress recently in regard to the proposals and the Minister for Labour and I are having discussions with congress representatives on the matter at present.

I want to assure the Minister that this side of the House are very pleased that there are talks going on. Would the Minister engage in the talks in a conciliatory frame of mind?

As I explained to Deputies on a number of occasions in the House the matter we are dealing with is a very difficult and a very complicated problem. That is recognised by all of those involved in it. I do not propose to comment any further.

Does the Minister consider that the unfortunate remarks of his colleague, the Minister for Labour, the night before last in any way helped the atmosphere in which the talks started?

That is a separate question.

Would the Minister bear in mind the wise words of the Taoiseach at the weekend, that in matters of this kind there is no future in one side seeking victory over the other? I have paraphrased the Taoiseach's remarks but I think that is the general sense of what he said.

I am sure the Deputy is aware of the fact that I have on numerous occasions stated that what I wanted was a fair, equitable and just settlement and that I was not looking for victory over anybody or looking for confrontation.

Can the Minister say if he has made any efforts in his talks with Congress to have emergency powers for hospitals put into working order?

I do not propose to comment on the discussions with Congress.

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