Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank and pay tribute to members of the emergency services, particularly ESB, Eircom and council workers, who worked outdoors in terrible weather conditions throughout the Christmas period while the rest of us were by our firesides.

A serious and worrying development occurred at the Liebherr crane factory in Killarney last night when workers at the plant voted to reject Labour Court proposals to resolve an ongoing dispute with management. I am a strong advocate of workers' rights who believes workers should share in company profits. I ask both sides in this dispute to compromise. The Liebherr factory, which is more than 55 years old, is the largest industrial employer in County Kerry, with more than 670 employees. It also outsources work to many other companies. This morning, I wrote an e-mail to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, requesting that he intervene to break the impasse at the company and seeking the re-establishment of the national implementation body to resolve the issue. While I am awaiting a response, I seek the support of the Seanad for my call on the Minister to intervene in this matter. I ask also the Leader, through his good office, to invite the Minister to the House to discuss the re-establishment of the national implementation body to assist workers. The Liebherr case highlights the fact that such a body has been absent in this country since the collapse of national partnership. Every other modern economy in Europe has such a body in place. I seek a debate on the matter as soon as possible.