Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Does the Government intend to put a position to the social partners in respect of pay? The first issue that has to be addressed is pay in the public sector. Will the Government put an actual proposal in that regard to the social partners? Does the Government have a policy on the second issue that has to be addressed, which is pay in the private sector? The Taoiseach referred to disputes that are threatened and are taking place. I am sure he is concerned about the current tendency to ignore the recommendations of the Labour Court, for example, in the cases of Coca-Cola and Budget Travel. A number of attempts have been made to resolve issues arising from the closure of travel shops by Budget Travel, which is a profitable company. The company recently rejected the recommendations of the Labour Court. Does the Taoiseach intend to make any observations or proposals to the social partners about the need for compliance with the industrial relations machinery of the country, in the interests of maintaining industrial peace?

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