Under our system of industrial relations which is based on the principle of free collective bargaining, it is primarily a matter for the parties to a dispute to resolve their differences. The State facilitates the collective bargaining process by providing machinery through the Labour Court and the Rights Commissioners to enable parties to reach a settlement.
In the recent dispute at Dublin Bus a resumption of work was agreed as a result of the intervention of an industrial relations officer of the Labour Court. Efforts are continuing to get a formula which would help to prevent stoppages of this nature in the future.
I would point out that the Industrial Relations Bill contains a provision which requires trade union rule books to contain a rule providing for secret ballots before industrial action is taken.