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Dáil Éireann - Volume 222 - 30 March, 1966

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Relations.

46. Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, pending the introduction of new permanent legislation on industrial relations, any interim legislation is proposed; if so, the nature of such legislation; and if it is proposed to amend the Trade Union Act, 1941.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. S. Flanagan): Pending the introduction of new permanent legislation on industrial relations, I do not propose to introduce any interim legislation.

Proposals, which I intend to bring before the House, on trade union law envisage certain amendments of the Trade Union Act, 1941.

Mr. Cosgrave: Will that legislation cover the revised Labour Court?

Mr. S. Flanagan: I think so.

Mr. Cosgrave: Could the Parliamentary Secretary say in what respects it is proposed to amend the 1941 Act?

[308] Mr. S. Flanagan: I am reluctant to add anything to what I have said. Perhaps the Deputy is aware of the negotiations that are going on.

Mr. Corish: A change in the Labour Court would mean a change in the Industrial Relations Act, not the Trade Union Act.

Mr. S. Flanagan: The two Acts.

Mr. James Tully: Surely the Parliamentary Secretary is not suggesting there are negotiations going on at present with the trade unions about the proposed change?

Mr. Corish: Of course there are not.

Mr. James Tully: The Parliamentary Secretary said he did not want to give the information in view of the negotiations going on at the present time. This statement was made before and it was not true. That is why I should like the Parliamentary Secretary now either to confirm or deny that negotiations are going on at the present time with the Congress of Irish Trade Unions.

Mr. S. Flanagan: I cannot hear the Deputy.

Mr. James Tully: I do not know whether members of the Fianna Fáil Party consider it right to try to be smart in this House but the Parliamentary Secretary will not be allowed to give an answer like that to me. A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I ask your protection. I have asked this gentleman a question and he has given an insulting reply. That reply will not be accepted from him. I want to know is or is not the matter being discussed with the trade unions.

Mr. S. Flanagan: Let the Deputy put down a question.

Mr. James Tully: The Parliamentary Secretary said something that was untrue when he said the matter was being discussed with the trade unions.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. M.J. O'Higgins: On a point of order, I want to put it to the Chair [309] that the Parliamentary Secretary, not in his original reply but in reply to a supplementary question, did certainly appear to me to suggest that the reason for not giving further information to Deputy Cosgrave was that negotiations were going on.

Mr. James Tully: That is the second time he said that.

Mr. M.J. O'Higgins: A question has been asked as to whether or not the Parliamentary Secretary can confirm that. It seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable and civil question demanding a civil reply.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: That is not a point of order.

Mr. L'Estrange: It is a perfectly reasonable question.

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