Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious there are issues that will have to be resolved here. However, I would point out to the Deputy that the joint industrial relations council was established due to a proposition made by the Workplace Relations Commission. This is an independent body that is chaired by the Workplace Relations Commission itself with an independent chairperson. The provision in these joint industrial relations councils as I understand them is that where issues cannot be resolved, they will move forward to the Workplace Relations Commission, which will play a role in resolving those issues. I have some experience of the Workplace Relations Commission and it has advisory services, conciliation services and mediation services. Those services are available to assist both the trade unions and Bord na Móna in resolving issues that arise. Those measures are tried and tested. I am conscious that Bord na Móna itself is an independent commercial company and it must make its arrangements but I also expect it to follow the tried and tested ways of dealing with genuine disputes that have to be resolved. I see a significant role for the Workplace Relations Commission in this work.

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