asked the Minister for Labour the action he has taken, or proposes to take, to avert the B & I strike, due to commence on Friday next; and if the Labour Court have yet invited both sides to talks in an effort to avoid the disruption to the travel plans of 40,000 people over the Christmas holiday.
Private Notice Question. - Threatened B & I Strike.
I can understand and, indeed I share the Deputy's concern having regard to the seasonal time of the year but the requirements of time in giving notice for a Private Notice Question have probably overtaken events in respect of the Deputy's question. I am sure the Deputy is aware that the Labour Court have intervened and that conciliation talks started at 10.30 a.m. Those talks are continuing. I know the Deputy, the Fianna Fáil spokesman on Labour and the Public Service, will be as anxious as I am to ensure that no action that the House may take at this stage prejudices the outcome of these talks.
As I mentioned last week when I raised the matter of the CIE dispute, I do not have any desire to prejudge any talks at the Labour Court but, unfortunately, some talks wind up as soon as we stop talking with the result that one does not get anywhere. I should like to ask the Minister if he will accept that this is one of the most serious strikes threatened here in many years and that if it takes place it will cause great difficulties for tourism and trade? It will cause major disruption for the many families who have had to emigrate this year. In 1985 we have had the highest emigration since the fifties and the Minister's Department must be acutely aware of the thousands of Irish people who are working throughout Europe and are anxious to return for Christmas using the B & I service. Will the Minister indicate the action he intends to take in the next few days, apart from the talks at the Labour Court?
The House will recognise that the difficulties that have arisen in a number of areas which have manifested themselves as industrial relations problems are ones that have had a long history with rights and wrongs on both sides. Those difficulties are now in the hands of professional negotiators representing management and the unions. The House, and Deputy Ahern, will recognise that we have in the Labour Court a very professional team of skilled negotiators whose full time job is that of industrial relations. Like my predecessors I regard it as my duty to ensure that the machinery for industrial relations is at all times available, properly resourced and kept constantly aware of the concern of the public that it does the job entrusted to it. There is a very understandable temptation on behalf of all public representatives to try to replace that machinery. They do so, I suggest, at their peril. In recognition of the legitimate concern of Deputy Ahern and the service he has done in raising the matter I should like to tell the Deputy that the action he has sought has taken place. The Labour Court have intervened and conciliation talks commenced at 10.30 this morning. All we can usefully do is to underline the concern of Members to see a satisfactory outcome to those talks. I suggest, with all due respect to the Member opposite, that anything further at this stage could be counterproductive.
We hope the talks will be successful. As it is, we are going very shortly into recess. Could the Minister give an undertaking to make a statement-about the matter in the House? I might not get another opportunity over the next two days to raise this matter as the House will sit for only 48 hours more. If the strike has not been averted, will he give an undertaking to make such a statement to the House, so that we can further debate it?
I am hesistant to make any commitment to a blank cheque which might be cashed some time in the future in circumstances that none of us can divine at this stage. I am, however, prepared to say that as Minister for Labour I am prepared to make sure that all the machinery for industrial relations, reconciliation and resolution available to me will be made fully available to both sides to find a satisfactory solution to this situation.
Would the Minister state whether the Labour Court will be at liberty to consider a well argued case for a continuation of the services on the Rosslare-Pembroke line with a larger ship, which has been proved to be satisfactory and, I submit, was possibly profitable.
The strike notice served by the FWUI was in respect of the proposed termination of the Rosslare-Pembroke service. Since talks have commenced this morning on the basis of that issue, I can only assume that that matter, among others, is being talked about. The concern of the Deputy would be the same as my own.