Vol. 491 No. 3
93 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether there has been a major disimprovement in industrial and labour relations; her views as to the cause of this; and the way in which she will restore good relations. [12051/98]
Since the advent of national economic and social partnership agreements in 1987, the industrial relations climate has maintained a marked improvement. The statistics on the number of strikes and working days lost through strikes is a concrete illustration of this improvement. For example, according to CSO data, the number of strikes reduced from 102 in 1986 to 33 in 1997; days lost reduced from 309,178 in 1986 to 114,584 in 1996 and were down to 74,508 in 1997.
I do not believe that current disputes signal any weakening of partnership. As pointed out by the Taoiseach recently, we have all put too much into the process and it has delivered too much to the country for us to let that happen. We shall resolve these disputes and any others that might arise in a sensible and practical way.
