asked the Minister for Labour whether in view of the escalation in the industrial relations difficulties in the Poolbeg power station with the adverse effect any work stoppage in the station would have on the rest of the power system, he has any action under consideration as a matter of urgency.

I have been keeping in close contact with developments in this dispute. The particular difficulties at Poolbeg have arisen from a complicated inter-union dispute and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has been endeavouring for some time to have this dispute resolved. I am informed that the Industrial Relations Committee of the congress will be having further meetings with all the trade unions in the ESB within the next week or so in a further effort to achieve a settlement which will be acceptable to the parties involved and which hopefully will endure.