asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement indicating when he had meetings with the social partners since taking office; the topics discussed at each such meeting; and when he next plans to meet with any of the social partners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meetings with Social Partners.
3.
Since taking office I, together with the Ministers for Finance, Agriculture and Food, Industry and Commerce, Energy and Communications, the Environment and Labour and the Minister of State for Food, as appropriate, have met representatives of ICTU on 15 and 29 April, of the Construction Industry Federation on 30 April, of the IFA, ICMSA, ICOS and Macra na Feirme on 7 May and of the FUE and CII on 14 May.
At these meetings we considered the consultative arrangements that should be established to enable the social partners to bring forward and discuss with Government their contributions to an integrated national programme for growth and economic recovery.
The topics discussed at the meetings ranged over the problems of the economy especially employment, tax reform, social services and incomes but also of the particular sectors especially industry, agriculture and construction.
A number of joint working parties are being established at official level with the social partners to prepare proposals for the programme for growth and economic recovery. These will be meeting over the coming weeks and reporting back to further meetings which my Government colleagues and I will have with representatives of the social partners.
In the course of the discussions with ICTU, were the questions of employment, pay and Government expenditure discussed and was it conveyed to them that present figures available on Government expenditure are likely to be altered as a result of the Taoiseach's circular letter to Ministers calling for further cuts in Government expenditure?
I will be answering a question about the specific discussions with ICTU later on.
Is it the Taoiseach's intention to have discussions with organisations representative of young people and by doing so to continue the process set in motion by his predecessor to afford consultative status to representatives of our young people on the same basis as the other social partners?
Yes, I will be happy to continue the process which I started to award representatives of young people consultative status, and discussions will be held from time to time with representatives of young people. I am not sure that the process of discussions with which we are now dealing in this question would necessarily involve representatives of young people, though if that would appear to be advantageous I will certainly see to it.
Would the Taoiseach not accept that in areas like employment the voice of young people is a very relevant voice to listen to?
Yes, but at this preliminary stage I take the view that the whole employment area and young people's interests should be dealt with through ICTU but if it were wished by young people to make a separate submission, that can be considered.
In the course of his discussions with ICTU does the Taoiseach have on the table the question of low pay and minimum wages in the public and private sectors? Is the question of wage increases on the table, particularly in the context of national arrangements to deal with increases in wages?
In a moment I will be dealing more specifically with exactly what is being discussed with ICTU, in another question which is coming up.
That is the question on this item.
Question No. 4.