THE Minister of State for Science, Commerce and Technology, Mr Pat Rabbitte, has intervened in the 12 week old Irish Life dispute, writes Padraig Yeates.

He has asked the company and unions representing the 300 sales staff on strike to agree to binding arbitration by the Employer Labour Conference (ELC). His stance was supported last night by the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn.

The ELC has not been convened for a number of years but it is understood to be ready to facilitate the Minister, as is the Labour Relations Commission, in trying to resolve the dispute. The company and the unions representing staff, MSF and SIPTU, are expected to consider Mr Rabbitte's request favourably over the weekend. A request for ELC intervention originally came from MSF members in the administrative and clerical divisions of Irish Life earlier this week.

However, it will ultimately depend on the strikers whether ELC arbitration takes place because they would have to agree to be bound by the outcome. They have already rejected settlement proposals from the Labour Court and LRC.

The dispute, which is over restructuring proposals, has become increasingly bitter and employees have been threatened with the loss of their jobs if it continues much longer.

Yesterday, Mr Rabbitte said that, as a result of his enquiries, he believed the ELC could be convened "quite quickly". "I am expecting both Irish Life management and MSF to indicate their willingness to accept the process."