MINISTER KITT WELCOMES PUBLICATION OF LABOUR RELATIONS COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1997

Mr. Tom Kitt T.D., Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, today (Wednesday 29th July, 1998) welcomed the publication of the Labour Relations Commission's annual report for 1997.

Recalling that Partnership 2000 had fostered some significant developments in industrial relations during 1997, Minister Kitt pointed out that what is involved in industrial relations is a process which needs to be attuned to emerging problems, attitudes and expectations. Modernising industrial relations is an important factor in sustaining and enhancing Ireland's competitiveness. Improved industrial relations, he emphasised, benefits both employers and employees.

The Minister said "the continuing increase in the rate of settlement of disputes by the Commission's Conciliation Service, (66%, 70%, 81% & 83% in the years 1994 to 1997 respectively) and the increasing involvement of its Advisory Service shows the effectiveness of the Commission's services in promoting a more co-operative, and mutually beneficial, approach to industrial relations. The Commission's Equality Service provides a low-cost and efficient process, protecting vulnerable sections of society against discrimination."

Minister Kitt noted the low, and decreasing, levels of industrial disputes, as shown by the number of strikes, 28 in 1997 compared with 30 in 1996, resulting in 74,508 days lost due to industrial action in 1997 compared with 114,585 in 1996. He noted, however, that these figures were still high relative to many of our trading partners who had also seen significant declines in industrial action.

Minister Kitt acknowledged the need to build on the progress already achieved in developing constructive attitudes to dispute resolution. In this connection he welcomed the Commission's activities under the Frequent Users Initiative and urged organisations, as far as possible, to implement improved practice (i.e. to take ownership and responsibility where problems arise) before having recourse to the Industrial Relations Services as a final option.

The Minister thanked the Commission, and its staff, for the comprehensive, proactive and developing extent of its industrial relations services. Recognising, however, the increasing demand and complexity of its work, and the Government's commitments in Chapter 9 of Partnership 2000, Minister Kitt said that "the Government was pleased to have, in the past year, provided additional resources to the Commission to enable it to increase and enhance its services. In a constantly changing industrial relations and economic environment, in which its role would be even more important, a strengthened and more sophisticated Commission was now in a better position to meet the ongoing challenges facing it."