Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Like the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and others, I do not wish to interfere in internal industrial relations or in the industrial relations machinery of the Labour Court which has served us well. I recently met representatives of the unions, such as Mr. David Begg of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, representatives from the Seamen's Union of Ireland and people from SIPTU. They made a number of suggestions about what I could do in respect of a tripartite arrangement with the United Kingdom and France. I pursued this and sought advice but I could not do anything in the short term.

In concert with the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Killeen, and his officials, we discussed the possibility of introducing legislation to ensure that, irrespective of which country's flag a vessel flies, it must conform with the minimum wage legislation in this country, the United Kingdom or France depending on where they were sailing to and from. There was no legislation we could introduce to do that.

I was in Europe at the time. The Deputy referred to the EU manning issue which was approved by the European Parliament but not by the Council. We had some reservations but, as I have often said, it is much easier to be an historian than a forecaster. Obviously, there were good grounds for the decision at the time but I hope we can pursue the manning directive as it is the best avenue. It is not on the agenda at the moment but I would have no difficulty in trying to promote it in Europe. It may not solve the problem immediately but is essential in the long term. None of us in this House condones——

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