asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the action, if any, he will take on the present crisis at Irish Press Newspapers, in which 600 jobs are at stake.
Private Notice Questions. - Irish Press Newspaper Dispute.
asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the action, if any, he intends to take to help to resolve the current dispute at Irish Press Newspapers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, in view of the serious industrial dispute in the Irish Press Group and the threat to almost 600 jobs, the steps, if any, he is taking to bring both sides together to seek to resolve this dispute and to allow production of the group's newspapers to resume.
I propose to take these three Private Notice Questions together. I fully share and appreciate the concern of Deputies at the present serious situation facing Irish Press Newspapers and its 600 employees. The current industrial relations dispute arose from the dismissal of a journalist last week. My understanding is that the decision to dismiss him was taken by management as a result of an article by him which was published in The Irish Times. Following the dismissal the National Union of Journalists held a mandatory meeting which was followed by occupation of the Irish Press premises on Burgh Quay by a number of journalists until today. Publication of the group's three newspapers has ceased and all staff have been laid off. The union is seeking the reinstatement of the dismissed journalist. However, management has stated that there is no question of him being reinstated.
The Labour Relations Commission was in contact with both parties offering to assist in finding a resolution to the dispute but, regrettably, its services were not utilised. In view of the gravity of the situation and the positions being adopted by the parties, the Labour Court has intervened in the dispute in accordance with the terms of section 26 (5) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. Both parties have agreed to attend the court for exploratory talks tomorrow. I understand that the workers ended their occupation of the company's premises earlier today.
I welcome this intervention by the Labour Court but I would not like to make any further comment now which would jeopardise this process apart from urging both parties to co-operate with the Labour Court in its endeavours to find a resolution to the dispute. In this regard I am sure that all parties appreciate the serious consequences for all those involved.
I share the Minister's wish that the impasse can be broken and the matter resolved satisfactorily. The workers have given proof of their good intentions by withdrawing from the premises. I hope management will respond in like manner. In particular I ask them to suspend the correspondence which led to this impasse. Is it not ironic that the Irish Press which was set up in 1931 to give the voiceless a voice now finds itself threatened by the same forces which led to the need for its establishment? Will the Minister continue to keep a close watch on proceedings as this matter is not being played on a level playing pitch? I am glad the Labour Court has intervened. I hope there will be openness and that both sides will adopt a fresh approach in seeking to resolve the difficulty. There are 600 jobs at stake and many of the men and women concerned do not have the prospect of another job.
I share the Deputy's hopes that this dispute can be resolved. I welcome the intervention by the Labour Court which has made it possible for a more constructive approach to be adopted in resolving this dispute which, regrettably, had become bogged down.
While I acknowledge the work the Minister has done and recognise that this is a sensitive issue does he agree, as the Irish Press group has not published any titles in recent days, that this represents a serious democratic deficit in the print media? For example, in the capital city people have a choice of only one evening newspaper while people in Cork have a choice of at least two. Does the Minister further agree that the approach adopted by management in seeking a resolution to the crisis at the Irish Press group is worthy of comparison with the approach adopted in boardrooms in distant places, such as Chicago in the United States of America, and that this style of management has contributed to the hardening of positions rather than to a happy and fruitful conclusion?
I share the Deputy's view that the loss of the titles in recent days has diminished choice. If the titles are not returned quickly to the streets it will jeopardise the group's long term future. I will not comment on the Deputy's second question as regards the behaviour of one or other side to the current dispute as it would not be helpful in seeking a resolution to the problems.
I wish to declare an interest in that a member of my family works with this company. Will the Minister consider asking the management of Irish Press to suspend the decision it made in relation to the journalist until the Labour Relations Commission has made a recommendation in this matter.
My understanding is that all issues will be open for discussion at the Labour Court and it would not be appropriate for me to suggest ways by which the dispute can be resolved. We have tried and tested labour relations machinery and the Labour Court is the established expert in this field. I rely on its good offices to find a resolution to this problem.
It would be helpful in seeking a resolution to this dispute if the correspondence — the letter from management to Colm Rapple — which led to this episode was suspended.
It is not a matter for me to rewrite history. The parties to the dispute will attend the Labour Court. We want them to advance towards a resolution to their problems. I am confident that the Labour Court is the right place in which to resolve all the issues of concern to both parties.
The Irish Press Group has more difficulties than this industrial relations dispute. When does the Minister intend to make known his findings in relation to the Competition Authority's report?
That is a separate question but I am proceeding with all possible haste and I will be returning to the Government with news in the near future.
In view of the fact that management has stated there is no question of Mr. Rapple being reinstated and that the matter is now closed is it not appropriate to call publicly on Mr. Vincent Jennings to drop this unreasonable and unbending approach towards the dismissal of Mr. Rapple to allow meaningful and open-ended discussions with the unions?
Talks will commence tomorrow and I believe they will be meaningful. It would not be appropriate for me — or anyone else in this House who wants to see a resolution — to comment on the behaviour of either side to this dispute. The way forward is to allow the Labour Court, which is seasoned and experienced in this field, to do its work.
That concludes questions for today.