WRITTEN QUESTION No. 890/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Refusal by the Irish airline Ryanair to recognize trade unions
21. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 323/93 (98/C 323/131) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0890/98 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (11 March 1998) Subject: Refusal by the Irish airline Ryanair to recognize trade unions Ryanair, the Irish airline, has been involved in a protracted dispute with its baggage handlers. The dispute arises from the companyís refusal to recognise or negotiate with the trade union representing these workers. The company has also refused to go through the normal channels for resolving trade disputes, as it will not participate in any arbitration procedure initiated by the Irish Labour Court. Ryanairís management has been a major beneficiary of the liberalistion of air transport within the EU. Bearing in mind Articles 11 to 13 of the European Social Charter, which deals with the rights of workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining, will the Commission investigate the issues surrounding the Ryanair dispute and issue a report thereon? What other action does it propose to take on this dispute? When will the Commission be publishing its promised assessment on the social impact of the liberalization of air transport? Does the Commission have any proposals on how rights of workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining may be upheld in cases where companies seek to deny these rights? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (23 April 1998) The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will inform her of the outcome as soon as possible. (98/C 323/132) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0891/98 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission (26 March 1998) Subject: Confirmation of readiness for the euro On Wednesday, 25 February 1998, a study was presented in Bonn by the Association for European Monetary Unioní which confirmed 14 countries as being ready for the euro. 1. Who is the head of this Association for European Monetary Union? 2. Which European economists and institutions contributed to the study? 3. How were they selected? Has the Commission commissioned its own studies on the subject? If so, who has been commissioned to 4. carry out what studies? 5. 6. 7. How much financial support did the Commission provide for this study or this association? Does the Commission concur fully with the views stated in the study? Does the data referred to derive from national sources or were other sources, e. g. Eurostat data, used? How do the authors of the studies define the terms áfinancial policy criteriaí and álong-term fulfilment of 8. the convergence criteriaí? 9. How does the study support the statement on the democratic legitimacy of the ECB?