DAIL DEBATES


Private Members Industrial Relations

Take Number: YY
Next Take Number: ZZ
Forum
DÁIL ÉIREANN

Sitting Time
Sitting Date
19:10
16 May 2001
Text:
Mr. Kelleher: I welcome this motion. It gives me an opportunity to outline the many positive policies being pursued by the Government. It is an indication of the success of the Government that, in referring to various issues, previous speakers, including Deputy Rabbitte, suggest they almost support the Government's amendment. Those issues are the high growth rates, low unemployment, tax cuts, the fact that 1.8 million are working and the huge amount of jobs continually being created. Definitely there are many positive aspects to what the Government has achieved.
Reference has been made to the problem of industrial unrest. One of the reasons we have an element of industrial unrest is that we inherited, from a poor period in the early 1980s, massive debt, high unemployment and massive emigration and then suddenly moved to a form of social partnership which has helped to transform the country. Nobody in this Chamber could condemn the positive aspects of social partnership and what it has contributed to our economy.
As a person who left second level school in the mid-1980s, I distinctly remember many friends and colleagues having to leave the country to find work. That continued right into the early 1990s. People talk about the Celtic tiger. I am concerned that young people feel that the Celtic tiger has been around forever. It is only in the past five or six years that it has impacted on the whole of society and we still have a way to go in certain areas. The generation younger than me seems to have the view that the Celtic tiger was always there because they do not remember the dark
days of the 1980s.
The Opposition is trying to highlight the issue of industrial unease. If we wanted to be negative we could highlight a few of the industrial disputes that have taken place. There is the argument, however, that social partnership has worked and should be supported by all. It would be disingenuous of us to try to remove ourselves now from social partnership. The Government has been very supportive of social partnership, which was founded by the Fianna Fáil Party in the late 1980s. This Government is committed to partnership and working with members of trade unions which see its benefits. Where there are difficulties within the framework of social partnership, industrial relations machinery is available to address grievances, either through the Labour Court or through the benchmarking process.
I would encourage all unions to look at the positive aspects of the
benchmarking process and I reject the criticism that the process has been undermined because of comments by Ministers. It is independent and I am confident that when it reports and assesses the pay of people in the public sector, they will be content with the result. The ASTI and others who have concerns should now come on board and see the positive aspects of benchmarking and social partnership. It has created huge employment across every strata of our economy. If unions walk away or are not supported by Government and Opposition, we will find ourselves back in the dark days. As a 33 year old, partnership has made a difference to me and my peers.
The success of this economy has of course brought problems too. There is a huge number of people returning to the country and we have an infrastructural deficit, acknowledged by the Government, which has
published the national development plan to try to address these issues. We must accept that we have come from a very low base and up to a few years ago there were public spending cuts rather than increases. We have a lot to make up to get to where we should be but the national development plan is positive and when it comes to full fruition we will see dynamic change with regard to the problems outlined. Road structure, investment in public transport etc. will improve enormously and everyone will benefit. That is another reason everybody with influence should strive to ensure that the most important pillar of the success of our economy, the social partnership, is supported and encouraged.
Some people say that central pay bargaining is an anathema to a free economy. I reject that. It is important that we have a system that protects the rights of workers and a procedure to address grievances and to guarantee that incomes are protected from inflationary pressures. Most trade unionists, employers and the Government accept that this is the way forward.
There is a difficulty for young people in terms of housing. Union
representatives highlight the fact that many double income families are unable to purchase a home. That is something we have to address because if we do not address the underlying problem it could have serious repercussions and a ripple effect right across the social partnership. We have invested huge amounts of funding through various initiatives to open land for development. The pressure on the economy and on the whole construction industry to meet the demand must be addressed. An increase in public spending, particularly in infrastructural development, will have a knock-on effect in increasing the pressure already on the construction industry to meet a house-building target of 60,000 houses a year to address the present housing deficit.
All in all, over the next few months some of the disputes raised in this motion will be resolved. Those who have a grievance can use the
industrial machinery available to address their problems. It is important that employers accept that they have a fundamental duty to ensure that social partnership is supported and that it will continue. It disappoints me to hear of employers paying less than the minimum wage, paying cash under the counter and not ensuring that workers' entitlements and contributions are fully paid. I am particularly concerned about employers who use or abuse persons who have entered this country either legally or illegally. It is scurrilous that people who have migrated here are sometimes paid less than the minimum wage. That is an abuse of the system and it should be addressed.
Overall, this motion is timely because it gives us an opportunity to highlight the many positive aspects of what this Government has achieved. On this 75th birthday of the party, we can look back and point out the proud tradition of service to the country. Since 1987 the concept of partnership has encouraged all sectors to come together to address the problems of our economy. I congratulate the Government and others for moving forward with social partnership.

Mr. Rabbitte: Happy Birthday.

Mr. Kelleher: Thank you, Deputy.