asked the Minister for Labour if he has taken any initiative in the ESB dispute.

I have no present intention of intervening in any ESB industrial relations matter.

The Minister will appreciate that I tabled this question last week. I anticipated that we would have a drastic situation in the dispute. The trade union in question were reasonable enough to ensure that negotiations could take place in a reasonable atmosphere. Would the Minister assure the House that in the event of this situation escalating, then on behalf of the Government and the people he would see cause for intervention? Would the Minister agree that it seems easy for him as Minister at all times to say that he is not prepared to intervene, but there must come a point when the community as a whole wish that the Government must be seen to act for the people, and not necessarily be just the Government of the people?

Those responsible for the industrial relations in the ESB are doing a good job at the present time.