I wish to raise the issue of the 16 gardeners who are on the street outside the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin. They are now in their fifth week on the street. They are not on strike but suspended from duty without justification. At a time of social partnership, about which we hear a great deal, it is a disgrace that the staff have been left out in the cold and rain for five weeks without any effort being made to bring the dispute to a conclusion. The staff are available to perform normal duties prior to the introduction of a new system of training and examining of the Teagasc trainees. Management made an offer which the staff rejected. The staff quickly put forward an alternative suggestion to solve the difficulties but they did not get an opportunity to press their revised offer around the table. Management suspended the gardeners. Why does the Minister feel the union claim is not worthy of discussion? That is the only way to solve the matter.
I have been informed that the request by the union and staff will not cost more money. Money is not really the issue. It is a case of jigging around the regraded positions which have been offered by management. The dispute concerns the different positions of the grades. The staff are seeking conditions similar to those achieved by local authority gardeners with whom they are linked.
The craft gardeners remain willing to negotiate a settlement to this dispute on terms which will be both more acceptable to them and less costly on the taxpayer. Management remains opposed to such a solution or negotiations.
Tonight I hope the Minister can indicate some movement from the Department's position. These are reasonable, mature, committed, dedicated workers. They are not in any sense hotheads. Everyone is aware that suspending men and hoping they will crawl back after five weeks is not an option. One cannot just expect men to stay out in cold wet weather like today and offer them no hope. My view is that such carry-on leads to long-term bitterness. The danger is that it will lead to an all-out picket, matters will get worse and bitterness will increase. I ask the Minister to indicate that his Department will adopt a reasonable approach in this matter and get down to negotiations. Sooner or later that is what will happen and that is where compromise will have to be reached.
It would be better if the gardeners were allowed return to work on the terms which existed before, a time limit of two, three or four weeks imposed and matters sorted out.
Is the Minister prepared to instruct his officials to adopt a more reasonable stance? Is he prepared to get these men off the street and around the table? Sooner or later negotiations must take place irrespective of the venue, be it at the Labour Court or in the Department's offices. I hope the Minister can indicate some movement tonight. Leaving the gardeners out in cold, wet, miserable weather is not an option. It leads to more frustration and bitterness. I hope the Minister has some good news.