Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Mar 2000

Vol. 517 No. 1

Written Answers. - Bord Gáis Éireann.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

91 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the discussions, if any, which have taken place with Bord Gáis Éireann employees on restructuring proposals for the company; the assurances, if any, given to workers, particularly in relation to shareholding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7758/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

I am aware that negotiations between Bord Gáis Éireann and its unions on a rationalisation and harmonisation agreement have been the subject of a Labour Court recommendation and the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission recently.

I understand that the decision of the LRC will be balloted on by the various unions in due course.

As to the question of an employee shareholding in BGE, my position on this is that I have no difficulty with the principle of an ESOP, subject to certain guiding principles which are generally applicable for negotiating such schemes. I do not propose to comment further on the negotiation of an employee shareholding in BGE pending the outcome of proposals put forward by the LRC recently.