asked the Minister for Labour if he will report on the progress on the ongoing discussions on industrial relations and specifically if progress has been made on any of the main issues; (a) the law relating to industrial relations, i.e. the use of injunctions in trade disputes; (b) minimum wage-fixing machinery; (c) the Labour Court and their conciliation service; and (d) the structure of trade unions and employers organisations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Relations.
19.
Comprehensive discussions have taken place on the proposals relating to the official dispute — settling institutions, the system of minimum wage fixing machinery and the structure of trade union and employer organisations.
The proposals for new trade dispute legislation which were published in January are currently under consideration by ICTU and FUE. I expect discussions to take place on these proposals in the near future.
I would add that it remains my intention to introduce legislation on both the reform of industrial relations institutions and trade dispute law later this year.
I noticed last week that some of the employer bodies entered into a public debate on this matter, when the ICTU conference was taking place. Am I to take it that the talks are not proceeding at the rate the Minister would wish or that the FUE are not talking to ICTU? Perhaps the Minister would give some details on the talks. I do not think they are so confidential since one of the tripartite has gone public.
The talks are ongoing on the basis of a discussion document that was prepared and circulated initially. Following the reactions to that discussion document a definite set of proposals was published earlier this year to which there was an initial mixed response, positive to certain aspects and not so positive to other aspects — that is the kind of reaction one would expect to get to any set of proposals. These proposals have been circulated and are in the public domain. Discussions have taken place with both sides to clarify, to the satisfaction of both ICTU and the FUE, what our intentions are and the impact the various components of the proposals will have. Those discussions are ongoing and different views have been expressed by people on both sides — trade union members, employer groups and such people as, for example, the President of the Institute of Personnel Management. Until the discussions are completed I am not in a position to give any final information to the Deputy.
I accept that it is complex legislation. These discussions have not yet been completed and the Minister has said this legislation will be introduced in the next session. If it takes two and a half years to draft amendments to the Holidays Act, and the discussions on the Trade Disputes Act have not been finalised, what is the position with regard to the legislation?
If we complete our discussions in the next few weeks we will be in a position to meet our timetable. There is obviously a certain degree of reluctance on both sides for fear of the consequences of change. I have consistently said that the community at large will be better served by a reform of the industrial trade disputes system because our trade disputes law is out of date and delays that arise in setting industrial disputes because of this are unsatisfactory. We have an obligation to try to reform them. My view is that the institutions ultimately have to be made to work by the people who participate in them. So, I am anxious to get as much agreement as is possible from both social partners with regard to the changes I hope to bring before the Oireachtas.
I do not wish to dictate to either of the two bodies. But may I take it that if the talks have not concluded by the end of the summer the Minister will conclude the issue for them and bring forward legislation in the autumn anyway?
There must be discussions and both sides have as right to be consulted. But ultimately it is the responsibility of the Legislature to decide on what it wants to legislate and how, and that position has not changed.