Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing these Private Notice Questions on an important issue. I also thank the Tánaiste for addressing the matter in the House. Like any industrial relations dispute, it is complex. Most of us would understand the complexities, but the House is not equipped to argue every point of it, nor would any of us wish to do so. I do not intend to make it a party political matter because it is not one, but this dispute has a bearing on the wider economy. There are risks to businesses and workers that are not involved in the dispute. The unemployed are also at risk. They would like to re-enter the workforce, but their chances of doing so would be reduced should the dispute turn out the wrong way.

I have three questions for the Tánaiste on two core issues. From my reading of the REA and the Labour Court's determinations, pay increases were due in April 2008 and April 2009. We can argue about the levels, which companies should be analogue companies and so on, but the pay increases were not paid. Any agreement would need to recognise this fact and the back-pay issue. Electricians have received no pay increase since April 2007 whereas almost everyone in the country has received several increases, certainly if they, like Deputies, are covered by the partnership agreements. It is important that employers acknowledge this point.

It is also important that the unions acknowledge that the economy is in a different place. Irrespective of whether we like it, wages and prices among other things must decrease if we are to save jobs, start our recovery and become competitive again. Any agreement would need to recognise that wage rates need to stay at 2007 levels at the least.

If the Tánaiste cares to comment, does she agree with my analysis? Will she join me in asking both sides to moderate the dispute's temperature? An agreement can and will be found, but there is a risk that people could become entrenched in their positions or provoke one another. The temperature could be raised to such a degree that reaching an agreement could be more difficult. Will the Tánaiste join me in calling on both sides to moderate the intensity of the dispute? In particular, we should ask the employers not to put anyone on protective notice for the next few days at least and the unions not to engage in secondary picketing. My definition of the latter is broad, that is, picketing of businesses that are not parties to the dispute.

The Tánaiste does not intend to invoke the relevant section of the Industrial Relations Act 1990. If it transpires that the dispute escalates during this week or if no progress is evident later this week, the Labour Relations Commission is unable to bring the partners together and the National Implementation Body fails, will the Tánaiste be open to the possibility of using the statute to appoint an interlocutor, facilitator or inspector to analyse the situation and bring the two sides together?

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