asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will indicate the requests, if any, received from the POWU to meet for discussions regarding the postal strike; the time and dates of such requests, and full details of his replies on each occasion.

5.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if it is intended to meet the POWU for discussions with a view to settling the postal strike.

6.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the up-to-date position concerning the postal strike; the efforts now being made to resolve the dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

7.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the serious damage to all aspects of the economy as a result of the postal dispute and the action he now intends taking to bring about a satisfactory conclusion to this strike.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7 together.

As Deputies know, I have been in constant communication with the Industrial Relations Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions throughout this dispute in efforts to bring about a resumption of normal work and an end to the hardship being caused to the community and the damage being done to the economy. In the course of these contacts, congress put forward a number of proposals for a return to work. On each occasion, I accepted the proposals but, regrettably, the union did not.

In discussion with congress representatives, I gave the union, through congress, wide-ranging assurances in relation to their various claims, including an assurance that, when negotiations on the pay claims in dispute are resumed, the Department will be prepared to offer an increase of £8.25 a week in the maximum basic pay of the grades concerned. Other assurances included a doubling of service pay, new allowances for unsocial work, and a substantial advance of wages to ease hardship among union members. I believe that any responsible person would regard the assurances given as very reasonable. I asked the staff, in the public interest, to return to work and resume negotiations on the basis of these assurances which were given by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions as well as by myself. I regret that that appeal was not responded to.

Contact with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions was resumed last week and is continuing this week. The House can, of course, be assured that I will do everything possible, as I have done throughout, to bring the dispute to an end on a basis which is both fair to the staff and to the community as a whole.

I have had no request to meet representatives of the Post Office Workers' Union. As I have said, contact during the strike has been through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Would the Minister agree that the difference between what he is offering to the Post Office Workers' Union and what it would appear they are looking for from the Minister has been narrowed down to quite a small amount? Would he agree that it would be in the national interest for the Minister to have a direct meeting with the Post Office Workers' Union instead of having intermediaries involved? Would he agree that that would help to bring about an immediate settlement?

As I stated on quite a number of occasions—and I think the public are very well aware of this—I am doing my utmost to settle this very difficult problem. I have been dealing with it through the Industrial Relations Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. I believe they are a suitable body to assist the union and myself in the circumstances.

In view of the fact that intensive and active discussions are now taking place between the Minister's Department and the Post Office Workers' Union through the ICTU, does the Minister agree that at this stage it would be extremely unwise for us to make any further comment from this side of the House?

Would the Minister also agree that the House has a duty to press the Minister and let him know the House's concern for a settlement?

Question No. 8.

Can the Minister assure the House that all steps will be taken to bring this lengthy strike to an end as soon as possible?

The Deputy does not have to press the Minister because the Minister is concerned and is doing his utmost to bring about a settlement of this very difficult problem.

Is the Minister aware of reports in today's papers to the effect that the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers are likely to press for a countrywide one-week stoppage in all industry as a protest against the failure on the part of the Minister to settle the Post Office dispute?

That is a separate question. I am calling Question No. 8.

Is it not imperative that in the national interest this dispute be settled or is the Minister aware of this newspaper report?

I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on newspaper reports.

Question No. 8.

Surely the Minister realises that a report of this kind in one of our leading national newspapers must be accurate. This kind of stonewalling attitude is similar to the attitude of the Minister in relation to the Post Office dispute.

(Cavan-Monaghan): That is the trouble.