asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of the serious situation that has arisen concerning employees of two companies (details supplied) at the likelihood of the parent firm closing down its operations here; and if he will initiate discussions with a view to resolving the problem.
Written Answers. - Dismissal of Employees.
295.
On 28 April 1980 I was notified by the companies under the Protection of Employment Act, 1977, of their intention to dismiss 48 of their work force of 76. The reasons indicated for the dismissals were losses which had reached substantial proportions in 1979 and industrial relations problems which they had been unable to resolve and which had aggravated the scale of the losses.
Prior to giving me notice under the Act, the company on 8 April 1980 suspended the clerical staff who were engaged in unofficial industrial action. On 2 May 1980, at the request of the company and the trade union concerned—which had made the dispute official following the action against the clerical staff—a conciliation conference was held under the chairmanship of an industrial relations officer of the Labour Court to discuss the question of redundancy and severance terms. It was not found possible to reach a mutually acceptable solution and in the absence of agreement from both parties the matter could not be referred to the Labour Court proper for investigation. There has not been any indication from both sides that a further conciliation conference would be helpful as yet.
I understand that appeals in respect of 31 employees of the company are at present before the Employment Appeals Tribunal. These appeals have been made under the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977, the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 1979 and the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973. The hearing of these appeals commenced on Friday, 20 June 1980 and will be continued on Wednesday, 25 June 1980.
I am keeping in close contact with the situation.