asked the Minister for the Environment if he will intervene in the dispute between Dublin County Council and water inspectors employed by the council so as to ensure that there is no further disruption in the water supply in County Dublin and in particular in south Dublin which has suffered severe disruption in its water supply since Thursday last and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - County Dublin Water Dispute.
This dispute between Dublin County Council and the unions representing assistant water and sewer inspectors employed by the council concerns the effective date for payment of a special pay increase awarded by the Labour Court to these employees.
The agreement on pay in the public service, as amended, and to which the unions concerned are a party, provides for payment of 40 per cent of the increase from 1 October 1983 and for payment of the balance, with retrospection to 1 January 1983, at a date yet to be decided. The unions are seeking payment with effect from 24 May 1979.
The question of the date was examined by the Labour Court which indicated that under the terms of the public service pay agreement there was no scope for recommending a date earlier than 1 January 1983.
I understand that the dispute has today been referred to the monitoring committee provided for in the pay agreement. As the normal industrial relations machinery is available, it would not be helpful or appropriate for me to intervene in the dispute.
Will the Minister agree that the dispute is posing a serious danger to health and essential services particularly in south Dublin? Will the Minister urge those taking industrial action to come off their strike while discussions are taking place in the interests of the community?
I accept that difficulties are resulting from the strike. The fact that the monitoring committee met this morning, broke to clarify some points and will be meeting again this afternoon is an indication that the matter is being dealt with urgently. I am hopeful that there will be an early resolution of the matter.
I should like to clarify that this problem is not confined to south Dublin, it applies to all of County Dublin. Will the Tánaiste give an assurance that he, the appropriate Minister, will sanction any recommendation made by the monitoring committee because there is a threat that this strike will extend to the other services of the county council? If that happens it will be a tragedy for all County Dublin. Will the Minister give a guarantee that he will approve the recommendations of the monitoring committee?
I appreciate Deputy Burke's concern and I am awaiting the recommendations of the monitoring committee.
Is the Minister taking this matter seriously? Does the Minister realise that thousands of houses in south Dublin have been without water since last Thursday, almost five days? Bearing in mind the type of weather we are experiencing this is an extremely dangerous situation. This is not good enough. Is the Minister doing his best, because he said he is waiting for talks to take place? Will the Minister assure the people in County Dublin that there will not be any further breakdown? Has the Minister given any thought to restoring supplies while the talks are in progress? It is not good enough to say that he has to wait until the talks have concluded. The Minister must do more than that.
The Deputy will appreciate that it would be neither proper nor helpful for me to intervene in the normal industrial relations machinery.
What about the people who do not have a water supply?
I should like to point out to the Deputy that the county council informed me that the burst main has been repaired at Mount Venus, the tankers are providing water at Kellystown several times per day and in Bohernabreena the defective pump has been repaired and will be switched on today. Measures are being taken by the council to try to facilitate the people. I understand the gravity of the problem and I accept the Deputy's concern but it would not be helpful if I intervened at this stage when negotiations are taking place.
As the monitoring committee to which the Minister referred is a standing committee I should like to know why the issue was not referred to that body one week ago?
I assume——
I asked a question and I do not want assumptions from the Minister. I want an answer.
The committee are interpreting any possible misunderstandings that may have arisen during the negotiations.
Why was the committee not asked to deal with them one week ago?
Is the Minister satisfied that emergency cover is available to cope with the danger of fire throughout County Dublin?
As a former Minister for the Environment, the Deputy is aware that monitoring takes place to ensure that any necessary emergencies are catered for.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of my Private Notice Question to the Minister for Agriculture.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
The water situation in Tralee must be all right.