I informed the House on 19 February 1992 that I was considering the various suggestions that have been made by Opposition parties, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and others for some kind of forum in which new measures necessary to create employment could be studied and discussed.
The House subsequently resolved on 26 February 1992 — by way of an amendment to an amendment to the jobs forum — to await the positive proposals that I informed the House on 19 February 1992 I was considering for an appropriate structure which would enable new ideas and proposals to be identified and implemented with wide political support.
I now wish to inform the House that the Government Chief Whip will be putting detailed proposals to the other Whips next week for the creation of an Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment to identify and recommend proposals and measures to accelerate the creation of employment and alleviate the grave problem of unemployment.
I trust that what the Government will propose will be seen as a constructive step to providing a political structure in which new practical ideas and proposals to accelerate employment can be identified and brought into force while drawing on the knowledge, experience and insight of the social partners and other informed and concerned interests.