asked the Minister for Labour the plans he has to resolve the lock-out of workers at Tynagh mine, County Galway.
4.
Questions—Ceisteanna. Oral Answers. - Tynagh Mine Lock-out.
3.
asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of the serious situation that exists at Tynagh mines, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
On 19 July 1978 I requested the Labour Court, under section 24 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1946, to investigate the problems of industrial relations in Irish Base Metals Ltd., and to furnish a report together with recommendations as to the solution of these problems. The court met the parties to the dispute and decided that, because of the complex nature of the dispute, an assessor's report on the financial implications for the company would be necessary before it could issue a recommendation in the matter. Following receipt of that report the court issued a recommendation which was not, however, acceptable to the company. A Labour Court conciliation conference was held on 8 November without resolving the matters in dispute.
I understand that a meeting between the parties to the dispute took place on 4 December and that a further meeting is scheduled for Monday, 11 December.
Does the Minister intend to make any further intervention in view of the fact that the workers are not getting any strike pay or unemployment benefit? Is there any way that he can help them while these negotiations continue?
I want to assure the Deputy that I share his concern. However, as he will be aware from my reply, I have referred the matter to the Labour Court under section 24 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1946. A meeting was held yesterday between the parties concerned and a further meeting will be held on Monday next. I, too, would be hopeful that this long drawn-out dispute would end quickly.
I am sure the Minister must accept that, whatever efforts have been made to date, they have not been good enough. There are 250 men out of work there. It is up to the Minister for Labour to be seen to be involved in this and at present, as far as the people are concerned, he is not.
I should say that what is more important is that this dispute be resolved, not that the Minister for Labour be seen to be doing something, but that something positive is being done. That is what is most important.
Would the Minister give any undertaking—these people have taken enormous sums out of the country—that at some stage he will say that these negotiations have gone on too long? The workers have been left in a very difficult position as a result of prolonged negotiations and have been left, in financial terms, defenceless. Can the Minister force the company to come to some decision?
As the Deputy must be well aware, the Labour Court issued their recommendations which were not accepted by the company. In that situation I cannot compel either party to a dispute to accept a recommendation but naturally one would always be desirous that such recommendations would be acceptable. At this stage I would be hopeful as well that something would come of the talks to be held again on Monday next.
If, as a result of the most recent talks, this problem is not resolved, what action will the Minister then take?
That is a hypothetical question.
That is a good way of giving no answer.
Question No. 5.