Vol. 383 No. 5
asked the Minister for Labour the timetable for his promised review of the legislation governing industrial relations; whether improved financial assistance is being considered in the context of trade union education and the training costs and other costs that might arise for them from any proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Labour when his promised review of legislation governing industrial relations will be published; whether he intends providing additional financial assistance to trade unions for education and training purposes and to defray other costs which might arise in the context of any proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
29.
asked the Minister for Labour if any progress has been made on industrial relations reform, following the publication of Proposals on Industrial Relations Reform in February, 1988; and if he will made a statement on the matter.
40.
asked the Minister for Labour when he will present legislative proposals for the reform of industrial relations.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 19, 29 and 40 together.
I intend to submit proposals for the reform of industrial relations to the Government within the next week with a view to the introduction of legislation at an early date. The proposals will include amendments to industrial relations, trade union and trade dispute law. In particular, I will be proposing revised institutional arrangements as well as new provisions in relation to secret ballots, injunctions, picketing, trade union amalgamation and minimum wage-fixing machinery. I have had detailed discussions with the FUE and the ICTU and I feel I should now proceed with the drafting of the necessary legislation.
In relation to financial assistance for trade union education and training, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will receive a grant of up to £701,000 in 1989. This represents an increase of £17,000 (2½ per cent) on the amount of the grant in 1988. Trade unions will receive up to £390,000 in 1989 under the trade union training support scheme operated by FÁS, the same amount as in 1988.
My proposals on industrial relations reform are not likely to result in increased costs for existing trade unions.
My question, No. 29, is listed for priority. Is it in order that a question nominated for priority is taken in conjunction with others? Does that not defeat the purpose of having questions nominated for priority?
It is not unusual.
But is it correct? It is of little advantage if a question is nominated for priority and is then taken in conjunction with others.
The Deputy is afforded an opportunity now of asking relevant supplementary questions.
It is now nine months since the document entitled Proposals on Industrial Relations Reform was published. Would the Minister say whether he has met some opposition from vested interests, namely, the employer groups, regarding the introduction of the relevant legislation? Is that the cause of the delay?
I do not believe there has been any delay involved. The Deputy is correct in saying that it is approximately nine months since the publication of the document. With the exception of the month of August there have been continuous meetings between officials of my Department — I myself have attended most — and representatives of both the Federated Union of Employers an the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. We discussed very important issues that have remained on the Statute Book for 82 years. Therefore I would not agree that a lapse of nine months — during which strong views were put forward by both sides — was too long. If I did not call a halt somewhere we would still be discussing the same issues in a year's time. Having issued detailed proposals — discussed at length in the Department, with some amendments, for several years — having afforded people eight or nine months of long discussions, with as many hours as were required to express their views, I think I should now go ahead with the drafting of the relevant Bill.
Could the Minister clarify the timetable henceforth? He has said that he will go to Government within the next week. Is he doing so with a view to obtaining sanction to proceed to draft and, if that is so, at what stage does he expect to have legislation on the floor of the House?
As soon as possible. As the Deputy will know, that is difficult to predict. The work of my Department, my own and that of the negotiating bodies is, I believe almost complete. The difficulty now will be to have the Bill drafted as quickly as possible. We have been endeavouring to examine that aspect as we proceeded. I am still aiming to have the Bill in the House by Christmas.
Did the ICTU make any submissions or proposals to the Minister's Department for industrial relations reform and, if so, when?
Does the Deputy mean ICTU?
Yes.
We sent our proposals in draft form to both organisations in February last. We have received oral and written submissions from both which have been followed up by several meetings over the past six or seven months.
Is it possible for the Minister to make available to the spokespersons on Labour the submissions and proposals of ICTU to the Minister's Department? Could we have their proposls or submissions?
Certainly I will send them to the Deputy; they are public knowledge.
