asked the Minister for Justice the situation in relation to the present industrial relations problem in the District Court; and the efforts which are being made to end this dispute.

17.

asked the Minister for Justice the current position in respect of the dispute between the court clerks and his Department.

(Limerick East): I propose to take Questions No. 16 and 17 together.

In my reply to the Adjournment motion of 27 January last I informed the House that the dispute had been referred to meditation under the scheme of conciliation and arbitration for the civil service. The current position is that meetings between the staff side and the official side under the chairmanship of the mediator took place on 2 and 9 February and the mediator held separate meetings with each side on 11 February. A further meeting has been arranged for today at which, I understand, the mediator is expected to make his recommendation.

Will the Minister accept the recommendation of the mediator? Does the Minister intend to accept the recommendation when he receives it?

(Limerick East): The recommendation is to be made on the basis that it does not tie either side. As soon as the recommendation is made I will examine it in the light of the serious situation pertaining at present.

I presume the Minister will examine the matter with some urgency.

(Limerick East): As soon as I have the recommendation it will be examined immediately.

When does the Minister expect the recommendation to be forthcoming?

(Limerick East): My information is that a further meeting has been arranged for today. I understand that the mediator is expected to make his recommendation at that meeting.

I thought the people opposite were going to solve that last October.

(Limerick East): We were not in power last October.

There is no point in going back on this——

(Limerick East): But Fianna Fáil were in power in October last.

Order, please.

(Limerick East): I know Deputy Gene Fitzgerald is a bit upset but October was prior to the change of Government.

Deputy Taylor on a short supplementary.

Might I ask the Minister to state how long this dispute has been going on, when it commenced and is he aware that grave hardship is being caused to very many people because they are deprived access to the courts of justice as a result of this dispute? Finally, will the Minister make special arrangements to have additional staff provided to deal with the immense backlog of legal work that has accumulated?

That is very much another question, Deputy.

(Limerick East): The dispute began in May 1982, which is the first answer. The reply to the second part of the question is that I am so aware and, to the third, I will consider the matter.