I am permitting a Private Notice Question to the Minister for Labour by Deputy Gene Fitzgerald.
Private Notice Question. - National Pay Talks.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will, as a matter of urgency, make a comprehensive statement on the Government's strategy on pay because of the breakdown in pay talks and the resulting serious implications for the economy.
In view of the importance for the economy of achieving a moderate level of pay increases for the coming year, I regret that the recent negotiations between Irish Congress of Trade Unions representatives and representatives of the employers failed to achieve such a settlement.
The Government are now engaged in a detailed review of the situation with a view to deciding what policy on pay would, in the new circumstances, best serve the interests of the country, faced as it is with such serious economic and social problems. Until that review has been completed it will not be possible to make the kind of statement requested by the Deputy.
Has the Minister ruled out the possibility of a further initiative to try to reopen the talks?
The National Executive Council of the FUE is meeting today to report on the pay talks. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is meeting tomorrow and will receive a report on the discussions and the Cabinet will be meeting over the weekend and will have a full report from me of the discussions. Until all these discussions take place I cannot say what the outcome of the discussion will be.
Would the Minister not agree that it may be disadvantageous to wait until executive meetings have been held because of final decisions being taken, and that if an initiative were to be taken it might well be more desirable?
These talks were organised and are at present taking place in the case of one of the organisations. It would not be right for one organisation to discuss the matter and for the other not to do so. Therefore I will await the outcome of the talks.