TAOISEACH Brian Cowen and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan have appealed for a resolution of the electricians’ strike.

Mr Cowen said that rather than emphasising the merits of their respective cases, the House should call on both sides to use the industrial relations machinery available.

“Every industrial relations dispute is a matter of deep regret and it is important to be prepared to ensure that both sides use the available machinery and to try to resolve this dispute quickly,” he added.

Mr Cowen said pay in the electrical contracting sector was set out in a registered employment agreement that set legally binding minimum rates for the industry, covering the electrical contractors. “Up to last year, the increase was calculated through an analogue pay comparison exercise, based on the pay of electricians outside the contracting industry,” he added.

“While certain legal challenges have been brought to the agreement, the issue is that of an industrial relations dispute, based on an existing registered employment agreement, which must be resolved through the use of industrial relations machinery.”

Replying to Opposition leaders’ questions, Mr Cowen said it was important that everyone took on the responsibility of getting the dispute resolved. He added: “I believe the means still exist by which this can be done using the industrial relations machinery, were people so minded.

“We have a voluntary basis for industrial relations in Ireland and cannot impose a solution.

“However, we need both parties to use the machinery that is available and to enter negotiations while minded to move from respective positions in a manner that will achieve an outcome that is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances.”

Mary Coughlan confirmed that she had requested the Labour Relations Commission to recall the parties as soon as possible to seek an early resolution of the dispute, in view of the seriousness of the situation and the impact on the economy.