Deal set to break deadlock in Irish Ferries dispute

A FIRST breakthrough between management at Irish Ferries and unions is expected to be announced later today, although the future of Social Partnership remains strained over the dispute.

The Irish Examiner understands that a measure channelled through the Government's industrial relations trouble-shooting body - the National Implementation Body (NIB) - last night has been accepted in principle.

Although the NIB was last night primarily involved in discussions on An Post, those present also found time in the wings to rubber-stamp a significant breakthrough in the Irish Ferries dispute.

The breakthrough involves a proposal that a mediation group be established with members from both the business community and unions. The four-member group will be announced later today, but it is expected that SIPTU vice president Brendan Hayes will be among its members as will IBEC's chief spokesman on industrial relations Brendan McGinty. The other two "interlocutors" will also represent unions and the business world.

The move, which is understood to have been received positively, was described by one source as "extremely significant".

And following the rejection by Irish Ferries of a Labour Court ruling on the issue, it will open a crucial pathway for communication between both parties.

The ruling ordered the company not to proceed with its plan to lay off more than 500 seafarers and replace them with cheaper labour from abroad.

Although there was no comment from the Government last night, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is thought to have been centrally involved in the initiative through his right hand man and industrial relations trouble-shooter Dermot McCarthy.

Mr Ahern is increasingly concerned about the possibility that the dispute over the replacement of Irish jobs with cheaper labour from abroad will scuttle 18 years of successful partnership agreements.

The company's rejection of the Labour Court ruling further increased that possibility since unions have pulled out of social partnership talks - due to begin this week - until they receive specific commitments from the Government on measures to prevent exploitation of workers.