asked the Taoiseach whether he was advocating institutional changes in our industrial relations system when he referred to the Government's willingness to improve ways of resolving industrial disputes, or whether he was advocating new procedures for the resolution of industrial disputes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Relations.
1.
On the occasion in question, I said that there were ways of resolving industrial disputes without irreparable destruction but that if these were inadequate the Government were only too willing to improve them. The industrial relations machinery is at present under review by the Commission on Industrial Relations. The Government will give the most careful consideration to the committee's recommendations. However, there is no doubt that a considerable improvement in industrial relations would follow if the existing procedures were used to the fullest extent in a general effort to avoid confrontation.
Is it the intention of the Government to postpone any or every action in the industrial relations area until the committee report?
On the contrary, the Minister for Labour is reviewing the situation actively, especially in the areas of his Department in which he considers that an improvement or an extension of services would bring about a better climate. That will be done as he thinks necessary.
Arising from the speech to which the question refers in which the Taoiseach referred to the law of the jungle, to what exactly was he referring?
I think the Deputy has only to use his imagination.
Did the Taoiseach mean the survival of the strong over the weak?
Question No. 2.
Are not his policies exactly that, the exploitation of the poor——
We are trying to avoid argument.
Are not many of our industrial relations problems contributed to by the Government's pro-rich policies?
Nonsense.
Even though it is irrelevant, I refute entirely this politically motivated supplementary question from Deputy Mitchell. It is always what he tries to do on such occasions.
What are the procedures which the Minister for Labour is reviewing at the moment, and do they include legislation?
We are moving into a wide area now.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Taoiseach not agree that the 1978 budget was weighted heavily in favour of the rich and against the poor?
There were substantial tax concessions for ordinary workers, substantial social welfare improvements for social welfare recipients.
To what extent will the removal of food subsidies contribute to industrial peace?
It has nothing whatever to do with this question.
Order.
It has a lot to do with industrial relations. Will the Taoiseach tell us to what extent the removal of food subsidies——
Will the Deputy behave himself and obey the Chair? The Deputy is here for his first term and he ought to learn to obey the Chair.
Maybe we need more fresh people on those benches.
Perhaps, but not of that calibre.
Will the Taoiseach deny that the removal of the food sub-sidies——
Order.
Unfortunately you cannot stop these irrelevancies because those people insist on making them.
The poor are irrelevant as far as the Taoiseach is concerned.
Fianna Fáil Governments right through our history have looked after the poor.
Perhaps Messrs. de Valera and Lemass did, but not the present Taoiseach.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if his recent public appeal to union employees and other interests to come together to consider with the Government the best way in which the country can move forward, had received any response; and if he will indicate the character of the joint action he sought from employers and unions.
The Federated Union of Employers have expressed a willingness to participate in discussions with the Government and other interests. No response has been received from other sources but this was to be expected, as those concerned would probably wish to examine the forthcoming budget before responding. In my appeal I gave a general outline of the type of joint action which might be appropriate. Possible lines for this action are under consideration.
In the kind of joint action sought by the Taoiseach, was it envisaged in regard to any agreement on wages and salaries that machinery leading to such agreement would be set up after the expiration of the present national wage agreement?
As I have indicated what was envisaged was a fresh start in which all the interests involved in procuring industrial peace and fair economic advances—by that I mean a fair distribution of economic advances—would come together and work out a means of achieving what I had in mind. I spelled this out in some detail in the speech which I expect the Deputy has read.
Question No. 3 postponed.