I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
I can confirm that the agenda for the meeting on 25 March last of the Central Review Committee under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress included the employment creation impact of the budget, a draft progress report on the achievements to date under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, the area-based strategy county enterprise boards, North/South economic co-operation and the national development plan for EC Structural/Cohesion Funds.
In accordance with established practice, however, it would not be appropriate for me to disclose details of confidential discussions with the social partners except to say that there was a very useful discussion at this meeting on all the issues which I have just listed.
The grave unemployment problem is an ongoing item for review and discussion by the Central Review Committee Deputies can be assured, therefore, that through this mechanism, as well as through other meetings and contracts, the Government and individual Ministers directly concerned are kept fully informed and can be assured that we will continue to give the most careful attention to the views of the social partners in this area.
Finally, I might also mention that a draft progress report on the Programme for Economic and Social Progress is at an advanced stage of preparation by the Central Review Committee and it is expected that the report will be published in the near future.