Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he intends to intervene in the dispute at Irish Cement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20929/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Industrial action by 110 workers at the Irish Cement production plants at Platin, Co Meath and Castlemungret, Co. Limerick began on 3rd April last.

I understand that the Labour Court's most recent Recommendation of January 2012 in relation to this dispute was the culmination of a protracted dialogue between the company and the group of unions representing the workers on restructuring issues that had already involved three successive Labour Court Recommendations.

The Labour Court noted in its Recommendation of last January that it was not in a position, on the basis of the information provided through a report of a Financial Assessor undertaken following agreement between the parties, to make a definitive recommendation on an adjustment of pay rates and pay structures for the future. The Labour Court had, accordingly, urged the parties to engage with each other regarding the total cost base of the company.

The Labour Relations Commission was subsequently closely involved in facilitating talks between the company and the group of unions which were aimed at finding an agreed solution to the matters in dispute. That process of dialogue proceeded to the stage at which proposals for a settlement of the dispute were rejected by the trade unions concerned and a work stoppage commenced.

I would urge the parties involved in this dispute to have regard to the continuing availability of the industrial relations dispute resolution bodies to assist them in seeking a settlement and in addressing the underlying challenge of a major restructuring of the company in the face of the dramatic changes in the building industry.