asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if any acceptance of the Green Paper work sharing proposals have been found with the social partners; and the Government's intentions in respect of work sharing proposals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Work Sharing Proposals.
7.
The proposals on work sharing were raised in my discussions with the social partners following publication of the Green Paper. There was a general acceptance that these proposals provided a basis for measures which could make a useful contribution to the creation of more jobs. It was recognised, however, that any such measures would have to be adopted on a gradual basis because of the adjustments that might be required. The Government's policies on work sharing will be outlined in the White Paper on National Development which is due for publication in the immediate future. In preparing these policies the views of the social partners are being taken into account.
In view of the fact that the Government are the largest employer in the State and that the Government took an active part in previous national pay agreements, does the Minister not feel that the Government should now take an active part in the continuance of national pay agreements and in setting an objective for those agreements instead of adopting the negative attitude adopted by the Government to date in the light of the TUC decision?
I reject the suggestion that we have adopted a negative attitude. It is surely appropriate to seek to identify the correct time at which to hold discussions or put forward any new proposals. I suggest that now is not the correct time, for a variety of reasons.
The Minister spoke of the end of May 1979 as the time when the review of pay comes into effect but is it not a fact that the first people to qualify for the next national pay agreement would qualify on 1 March——
April 1.
Even 1 April. That is scarcely two months after the budget. Is it not brinkmanship of the highest order to leave talks until after the budget? Would the Minister not agree that talks should take place before the budget?
Question No. 9.
One further question—in view of what the Minister said, would he not agree that the Government have a leading role to play and, irrespective of the chess movements in relation to time, does he not feel that the Government should be leading from the front in relation to the national pay agreements rather than from behind as the Minister implied?
I shall move on to Question No. 9 but in fairness I want to point out that following on the decision of the trade unions a meeting was held with the Taoiseach and senior Ministers at which preliminary discussion took place on what future developments in this area might be. A similar meeting was held with employer representatives. It is quite wrong, and creates a totally misleading impression, to suggest that the Government are not concerned about this matter, not seeking to develop appropriate policy in this area and are not anxious to secure agreement that will enable the economy to develop on a healthy basis in 1979. All these matters are very prominent in the Government's thinking at this time. What I am saying is that there are naturally questions of ordering or arranging the conduct of business including appropriate times for consultation with the trade unions and other bodies.