Call for legislation to deal with unofficial strikes

LEGISLATION SHOULD be put in place to deal with unofficial strikes, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey told the Dáil.

He said that the Government had chosen the partnership route and set up various mechanisms.

"We now have in place as fine an industrial relations machinery as any state. We have chosen the route of partnership rather than the introduction of draconian legislation," said Mr Dempsey.

"However, instances like this give rise to questions, such as those raised by TDs, in respect of the provision of essential services." Replying to a series of special notice questions on the train drivers' dispute, the Minister said that a Labour Relations report was made and accepted by the unions.

"A group of workers decided to step outside of it. From everybody's point of view, we are back to square one.

"The mechanisms which exist should be used where necessary. There is no excuse for this type of dispute where workers step outside the mechanism."

Mr Dempsey said he regarded the recognition of unions as extremely important. In the past, unions had shown themselves to be responsible in their attitude.

Fine Gael transport spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said that Ireland had dropped 17 places in international competitiveness in a few short years.

"We cannot afford to have the image portrayed that Ireland is a bad place to invest in, with the cancellation of major intercity trains between the country's two largest business and urban centres for days on end." Labour spokesman Tommy Broughan said that everybody wanted the trains running again.

"In that context, is it not invidious that any kind of preconditions would have been set, as happened yesterday? The service could have been back in action as soon as possible with substantive negotiations in hand."