Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Nov 1993

Vol. 436 No. 1

Written Answers. - Jobs Initiative.

Phil Hogan

Question:

19 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, that he will be making to the European Community in respect of the jobs initiative which is presently being formulated; when this package will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

The Deputy is referring to the White Paper on a medium-term strategy for growth, competitiveness and employment which the European Council at its meeting in Copenhagen last June asked the EC Commission to present for consideration at the Council's meeting in December. The Council also asked member states to submit to the Commission proposals for specific elements which might be included in this initiative. Copies of the Irish contribution to this White Paper were circulated to all Deputies, Senators and Irish Members of the European Parliament early last October.

The Irish contribution addresses the following broad policy concerns:

—macroeconomic policy thrusts to be pursued in a Community context, in order to regenerate sustainable, market-led economic and employment growth;

—microeconomic (sectoral) policy thrusts to be pursued, also at Community level, in order to enhance the growth potential of the Community, and thereby to create the capacity for a sustained faster pace of growth than might otherwise be achieved over the years ahead;

—issues of manpower (labour market) policy which require to be addressed to ensure that, at both the Community and the national level, policies concerned with developing the employment potential of people or otherwise impinging on employment prospects are designed in a fashion which can best support growth in sustainable employment and minimise "exclusion" from opportunity and access to work.

Deputies will find the details in the documentEC Commission White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment — Contribution by Ireland already circulated to them.