On 8 October 1990, accompanied by the Minsters for Finance, Industry and Commerce and Labour, I met representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. On the same date, we met representatives of the employer organisations — the Confederation of Irish Industry, the Federation of Irish Employers and the Construction Industry Federation.
On 10 October 1990, accompanied by the Ministers for Finance, Agriculture and Food, Energy and Labour, I met representatives of the Irish Farmers' Association, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society and Macra na Feirme.
The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the scope and content of a programme for economic and social development to succeed the Programme for National Recovery which expires at the end of 1990 and to agree the arrangements for the detailed negotiations thereon.
At the meetings, the social partners drew attention to areas which they felt should be discussed in the context of a new programme. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions submitted a document "Ireland 1990-2000: A Decade of Development, Reform and Growth" which I welcomed on behalf of the Government, as a very constructive input to the discussions. In particular, I welcomed the concept of a ten-year strategy within which programmes for a period of years would be agreed. At the meetings I outlined the Government's approach to a new programme. In particular, it should:
—cover all major economic and social areas,
—continue the process of reducing the National Debt/GNP ratio,
—contain a commitment to reducing by 1993 the standard rate of income tax to 25 per cent and to have a single upper rate and reflect the fact that severe adjustment will be necessary in VAT and excise duties in the context of EC tax harmonisation,
—stimulate continued increases in employment,
—within budgetary possibilities, provide for improvement of social welfare, education, health and housing services,
—provide for a combination of moderate pay increases with tax reliefs to increase take-home pay, and
—contain a commitment to upholding the principles of the Common Agricultural Policy and contain a long term strategy for the development of agriculture and rural areas.
Copies of the statements which issued after the meetings have been placed in the Oireachtas Library.
It was agreed at the meetings that negotiations on a new programme should commence without delay. Bilateral meetings, under the chairmanship of the secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach, have already taken place between a group of secretaries of Government Departments and representatives of ICTU, employer bodies and farm organisations. A number of working groups have been established with the social partners which are examining particular areas.
