Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is correct that this particular phase of the dispute came to a head when a driver based in Cork refused to undertake a particular duty, namely, to facilitate the training of four trainee drivers. He refused to undertake this duty on the basis that he had been assigned a different duty per his roster. Following removal of the person concerned from the roster, 12 other drivers in Cork refused to operate their rosters.

Previously, where such disputes arose people were suspended with pay. However, in this case the drivers have been advised payment to them will not resume until they have returned to duty and accepted the proposal agreed by everybody else. This is proving to be the core of the problem, the final straw, although I suspect given the background to this dispute that there is more involved.

I share the view expressed to me today and previously by Deputy O'Dowd that a "no strike" clause should be negotiated as part of the social partnership agreements to prevent this type of irresponsible striking. I have no difficulty saying this. A problem arises in respect of those people who put themselves outside——

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