asked the Taoiseach if he will be accompained by other economic Ministers at future quarterly meetings with the social partners, unions and employers, if these discussions will cover industrial relations, wage and salary negotiations, or economic matters of a more general character and if he intends to report to the Dáil in the aftermath of such discussions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Discussions with Social Partners.
2.
At the meeting between myself and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions held on 11 April, I indicated my intention to have quarterly meetings with the ICTU. I also intend to meet the FUE, and the IFA/ICMSA Co-ordinating Group, as may be required, from time to time.
These meetings will be devoted to a general exchange of views on economic matters and on the state of the economy. The question of my being accompanied by other Ministers at these meetings will be decided in the light of the prevailing circumstances. I do not consider it appropriate to report to the Dáil on meetings of this kind.
How does the Taoiseach visualise the relationship between these meetings with unions and employers in the context of the responsibility given by him to the Minister for Labour to act on behalf of the Government in future negotiations with the unions and employers in relation to the national understanding?
I am certain there will be no problem in that regard. The Minister for Labour will have specific responsibility for dealing with the ICTU and trade union matters generally. I decided in agreement with the trade union movement that this sort of general meeting at quarterly intervals with no fixed agenda, but just wide ranging over the entire economy, would be helpful to both Government and the unions.
Does the Taoiseach visualise these meetings with the employers and trade unions as being in support of a wider conception of negotiations with unions on the lines envisaged by the motion coming before the Congress of Trade Unions at the end of this month calling for discussions with the Government on health, education and taxation matters?
Not necessarily, but it is the expressed intention of the Government to work in the closest possible co-operation with the trade union movement in dealing with and solving our economic problems. It is also generally agreed between myself and the representative of the Congress that specific Ministers will be available to Congress to deal with specific issues as they arise but that Congress and myself would maintain this contact at an over-view level.
Will the Taoiseach agree——
Question No. 3.
The success of these talks is a very important topic from a national point of view. Will the Taoiseach agree that a good deal of disappointment has been expressed by trade union leaders on what they see as a shortfall in job creation and other important elements of the previous national understanding——
That is a separate matter.
——and that if the Minister for Labour's talks with the trade unions do not rectify this situation, then the possibility of an agreement for the coming year will be a very big problem?
That is a separate question.
The trade union movement representatives and myself find ourselves in broad agreement on the problems that exist in this area and on what should be our approach.