Austin Deasy
Ceist:20 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Labour if he has any plans to introduce a compulsory cooling off period before a strike can legally take place.
Written Answers. - Strike Procedures.
The Industrial Relations Bill, 1989, which is at present at Committee Stage in the House contains a provision requiring unions to hold a secret ballot before a decision is taken to engage in a strike or other industrial action. The Bill also envisages that at least one week's notice of the intention to engage in industrial action would be given to the employer.
I feel that the balloting arrangements provided for in the Bill together with the back-up support of the dispute settling institutions, are sufficiently comprehensive to enable disputes to be processed and resolved in an acceptable manner.