asked the Minister for Labour when the Government White Paper on Manpower Policy will be published; and if the principle of the White Paper will be in line with the decision of the Dáil earlier this year to have one authority responsible for the many agencies presently involved in Manpower training schemes and related matters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - White Paper on Manpower Policy.
33.
The White Paper on Manpower Policy will be published before the end of the year.
The White Paper will cover a number of major issues including the question of institutional arrangements. However, I regret that, pending a Government decision, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
Needless to say, I shall be glad to see the White Paper on Manpower Policy when it is published. I know the last one issued was in 1965 so I suppose this one will be worthy of the wait. Would the Minister confirm or deny that the Private Members' motion in this House, which agreed unanimously that there should be one manpower authority, will form the basis of the White Paper? Have the Government taken account of that Private Members' motion?
The Government have taken account of what I regarded as a particularly constructive debate over two evenings in this House, and have taken full account of all of the views and arguments expressed on all sides of the House in relation to it.
Can the Minister say when legislation will be introduced implementing changes in the present institutional arrangements? How long will it take after the announcement of the White Paper?
I am not in a position to give any prospective timetable at this stage.
Pending the publication of the White Paper and the follow-up legislation, would the Minister accept that the present manpower agencies are proving extremely ineffective in tackling the job they have to do because of their present structure?
No, I would not accept that they are being extremely ineffective in tackling the job they have to do. I would accept that they need considerable additional help and resources including structural changes. I am hoping to bring forward my proposals as to how we might deal with that in the White Paper as soon as possible.
I shall probably be debarred from asking any further questions on this subject until the White Paper is published. It appears the country knows at present the amount of resources put into the various agencies and the varying schemes implemented by those agencies, which is somewhat of a national scandal which has been highlighted several times——
This would not appear to be a question.
If there is not one authority contained in this White Paper we shall have to continue under existing legislation for another 22 years.
34.
asked the Minister for Labour when he proposes to bring forward legislation to implement the proposals of the White Paper on industrial relations reform.
Outline proposals for the reform of industrial relations were published by my Department in March of this year. The proposals centred on two main areas: (1) the placing of trade dispute law on a new and more forward-looking basis by moving from a system of immunities to a system of positive rights; and (2) the reform of our industrial relations institutions notably through the establishment of a new Labour Relations Commission. Since March there has been a series of meetings with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Federated Union of Employers at which these proposals were amplified and discussed in detail. This process is not yet complete. I am sure Deputies will appreciate how important it is to have the fullest possible consultation and consensus on the complex and wide-ranging issues involved. I would hope to be in a position to put a reform package before the Government before the end of this year.
I accept that there should be full consultation and negotiation prior to any announcement or the introduction of any legislation. Would the Minister indicate the present policy of his Department in relation to (1) the re-organisation of the Labour Court, (2) the amendment of the Trades Dispute Act, 1906, and (3) the incentives for reform of trade union structures?
The three items to which the Deputy referred are covered in the discussion document, a copy of which I understand he has received. Therefore, at this stage he knows what is the outline thinking of the Department which now forms the subject of detailed discussions on both sides. I have already indicated in my reply that, following the completion of those discussions and consultations, I shall be putting forward a comprehensive and integrated package of reform to the Government by the end of this year.
I think the Commission on Industrial Relations reported in 1981, that was the commission set up by my colleague, Deputy Gene Fitzgerald some years earlier. When is it expected that we may have legislation in the area of industrial relations reform?
Since the Deputy has referred to the commission of 1981 he will be aware also that it was a one-sided document in which the Irish Congress of Trade Unions refused to participate after the first few initial months and that that act alone highlighted the extraordinary difficulty that has surrounded this area for a number of years. I am proceeding with consultations with both sides in industry in a manner of which the Deputy is already aware and which I have already indicated to the House. I hope that the reform package which I shall bring to Government by the end of this year will result in legislation being introduced as soon as possible.
In view of recent statements by senior trade union leaders, following their annual congress conference, that one of their priorities was incentive for industrial relations reform and was something they desired, could that be treated as a separate package to assist them in their present difficulties?
I presume the Deputy is referring to the 1975 Trade Union Act already on the Statute Book and which is available to those trade unions who wish to avail of it voluntarily. I do not presume the Deputy is proposing that I should compulsorily impose reform of trade union structures.
The Minister would not get too far.
I just wanted to ensure that that was not what the Opposition spokesman on Labour was suggesting.
Obviously we are not suggesting that.
I wish to remind the House and the Deputy that legislation to facilitate the reform, including some of the financial costs associated with such amalgamation and reform, is on the Statute Book and is available to all trade unions who wish to avail of it.