John Bruton
Question:7 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the arrangements, if any, the Government have to oversee the operation of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
The Central Review Committee meet monthly to monitor the achievement of the targets and objectives of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. Where issues arise involving Government or ministerial responsibility, the committee report to the Government or to the individual Minister concerned. Periodically, I and Ministers have met with the committee to discuss matters of general concern arising from the programme. In addition, I and Ministers have held bilateral meetings with individual social partners and there have been bilateral meetings between a social partner and a Minister to discuss matters of special concern under the programme to that social partner.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that there is considerable worry among those who are concerned about the status of this House that Ministers meet in regard to the Programme for Economic and Social Progress with interests outside this House but do not meet in committee with Members of this House to discuss the commitments and the implementation of the commitments in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress? In that context will the Taoiseach say if any progress has been made on the NESC study that was promised in section 10 of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress which offered the hope of an institutional structure which would involve democratically elected people in this House in dialogue with Ministers about the implementation of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress?
The concern the Deputy is speaking about must be a preoccupation with him or his own party. I do not find such concern being expressed in any other direction.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that it is unsatisfactory that commitments which involve subsequent actions by this House are given by the Government to people outside this House and that the bringing into effect of those commitments subsequently turns this House essentially into a body which simply rubber stamps decisions taken elsewhere between Ministers and people who are not elected to this House?
We are having an element of repetition.
It has always been for the Government to govern and make decisions and for the House to approve or reject them.