asked the Minister for Labour in relation to the proposed White Paper on Manpower if he will consider issuing a discussion paper on his proposals for a period of three months prior to the White Paper being finalised in an attempt to overcome the major obstacles preventing the White Paper being finalised.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - White Paper on Manpower.
14.
The last White Paper on Manpower Policy was issued in 1965. The need for changes has been recognised for some years and recommendations to alter some elements of it have been made in several reports on the subject, the latest being the NESC report on Manpower Policy in Ireland.
I and my Department have had extensive consultations with the semi-State bodies operating in the manpower field and with employer, trade union and youth bodies. Following this detailed preparatory work I have put proposals on the future direction of manpower policy to Government. I consider that the publication of a discussion document at this stage would not serve any useful purpose.
Will the Minister state the date the submission went to Government?
The relevant memorandum for Government, together with the draft White Paper, was submitted on 1 November 1985.
May I take it that the period it takes to go through Government is normally 14 days and that something has gone wrong in a major way at Government level since it is now six months since 1 November 1985? I wish to outline for the Minister of State, because he is not in the Department very long, that 19 commitments have been given in this House by the Minister for Labour that the document will be out shortly, and the last of those was given last year. I do not wish to have a fight with the new Minister but it is a fact that for the first time we now know that the documents went to the Government last year and the Government had no intention of and no interest in bringing forward a manpower paper.
That is not correct, and I do not wish to fight with the Deputy either. There was a supplementary memorandum submitted to the Government on 17 January of this year and the NESC report, which is an important report, was published only on 15 January 1986. Besides that there were other matters for Government consideration which probably delayed the final publication of the report. I would expect that it is receiving attention.
I know, and the Minister probably does not know, that a very good journalist in the Irish Independent named John Walsh gave the full details of the NESC report about 12 months ago and did not have to wait until the document was published in January. Everyone in the country, particularly the Minister for Labour, knew exactly what was in it. Before the memorandum was submitted the Minister knew exactly what was in that and I had a copy about three months after the named journalist. So I am sure the Minister had it before I had, so that is no answer.
Apparently this document, which we have waited since 1965 to have updated and about which the Chair allowed me to ask questions and which was the subject of numerous Private Notice Questions, questions on the Adjournment and discussions in Private Member's Time in this House, has now been reneged on by the Government. Can the Minister give any reply as to why this document is now six months at the Cabinet table when the normal time is 14 days? Can the Minister give any sustainable answer to satisfy the thousands of young people who are waiting to see what direction this country is going to take so far as manpower is concerned?
I accept the point made by the Deputy. The Government are dealing with a very broad range of complex issues. Sometimes I wonder whether the journalists should run the country, if the Deputy had a report that far back.
So did the Minister.
The Minister was anxious to have the official published report and that was only published on 15 January.
It was the same one. It is just the colour that is different.
If the Deputy wishes to have a discussion document published at this stage that will only lead to further discussion and inevitably further delays, and probably requirements for further amendments.
When does the Minister expect that the document before the Government will be passed and circulated?
I cannot give the Deputy a specific date on that but I think that in all the circumstances it is better to leave it at the Cabinet table where it can receive action rather than having a discussion document published which might only delay the already delayed final publication.
May I ask a supplementary question?
I am moving on to the next question.