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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 2

Written Answers. - Industrial Disputes.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

74 Mr. Boyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the role she has played in relation to the ongoing industrial lock-out at the ADM plant, Ringaskiddy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12486/03]

Ultimate responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes lies with the parties concerned. In cases where the parties have failed to find a solution to a dispute, the State provides the dispute settling machinery of the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. The experience and expertise of these services are available free of charge to disputing parties.

The conciliation service of the Labour Relations Commission, an independent body under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has been engaged in efforts to resolve this dispute. In early March, the Labour Relations Commission assigned a mediator to act as an impartial chairperson in negotiations between the employer's and the employees' representatives. The mediator put forward a proposal for the settlement of the dis pute, but this was not accepted. The company subsequently announced the temporary closure of the plant and its intention to conduct a review of its overall operations, including its business and economic position and industrial relations. The Tánaiste shares my hopes that, when this review is complete, the company and the workers would be in a position to resolve their differences and that the plant would reopen without further delay.
Should it prove necessary, the industrial relations machinery of the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court, as appropriate, would be available to the parties to assist in finding a resolution to the impasse.
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