Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Leak to Newspaper.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

81 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on the unprecedented leaking from the Labour Relations Commission, to a Sunday newspaper, of a summary of the alleged findings of a rail safety consultants' report on safety concerns expressed by train drivers before the joint Labour Court/Labour Relations Commission investigation has been completed; the steps she has taken to establish the source of the leak to the newspaper concerned; and the plans she has to request the LRC to investigate the matter. [29313/00]

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

82 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether the leak of a summary of the alleged findings of a report on rail safety to a newspaper will further damage the confidence of employees in Iarnród Éireann in the Labour Relations Commission; and her further views on the ability of that agency to carry out its statutory role objectively and impartially. [29314/00]

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

83 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will ensure that the report by rail safety consultants, Sedgewick Wharf, to the Labour Court/Labour Relations Commission, which was funded by the Exchequer will be published in full. [29315/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 to 83, inclusive, together.

The Sunday Tribune carried an article in its edition of 12 November which reported that the safety study commissioned by the Labour Court and Labour Relations Commission “Had found rail standards in the country to be safer than those in the UK”.

I am not aware of the contents of the report by Sedgewick Wharf who were the safety consultants appointed. I am, however, satisfied that the report has been treated in confidence by the small number of people in the Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission who have seen it.

I expect that the report of Sedgewick Wharf will be made available to both the management and unions involved in this case shortly, when the Labour Court and LRC issues the findings of their joint investigation.