Lisk industrial dispute
Deputy Mairéad Farrell raised industrial action at Lisk in Gort and called on the Taoiseach to urge the company to recognise SIPTU. The Taoiseach said the childcare and education matters raised by earlier Deputies would be followed up, then addressed the pig sector, saying the Minister was working intensively to protect jobs and the industry.
I want to raise the ongoing industrial action at Lisk in Gort, County Galway. The company is refusing to engage with the workers' trade union, SIPTU, despite a Labour Court recommendation that the company should recognise the trade union and negotiate with it on worker's concerns. Of course, companies like Lisk have representative groups, such as IBEC, and should, therefore, give the same opportunity for representation to their workers through their trade unions. I ask the Taoiseach to use his office to encourage the company to recognise the State's industrial machinery.
Comment on this
In response to Deputy Mythen, €220 million in core funding went into childcare this year. It should be within the capacity of the sector, given that level of funding, to deal with the issue he raised, although I do not know the details of the individual case.
On Deputy Costello's point, I will talk to the Minister for Education. The move the Minister has made in having an alternative exam is quite a radical shift from the traditional stance in terms of standardisation, assessment and so on. I say that as someone who served in the Department previously. I will talk to the Minister about the Deputy's point on epilepsy but the move that was made, in itself, is very significant.
In response to Deputy Collins, I will ask for that incident to be investigated. I will raise the issue with the HSE and the National Ambulance Service. The Deputy has made a very legitimate point. It is very unacceptable that a woman in a frail condition with a broken hip would have to wait so long to get to hospital.
Regarding the issue raised by Deputy Farrell, I would appeal to all parties to that dispute to utilise the existing labour relations mechanisms to have it resolved.
Comment on this
Sorry. On the pig industry, Deputy Smyth will know from her interactions with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, that he is working intensively with the pig farmers. It is an industry that ordinarily is viable but because of a unique set of circumstances, a perfect storm has emerged for the industry. We want to protect the jobs and the industry and the Minister is working on that basis.