Vol. 462 No. 7
1 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the role of his office in the renewal of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, the Commission on the Family and the Task Force on Security of the Elderly, in his capacity as Tánaiste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5365/96]
As the Deputy is aware, primary responsibility for the negotiations of a new national programme rests with the Department of the Taoiseach. My office participates in the work of the Central Review Group on the Programme for Competitiveness and Work and will be involved in any discussions that might arise in that forum on a new agreement. As is the normal practice, officials from various Departments, including those from my office, will be involved in preparatory discussions in advance of any negotiations on a new programme. While my office is not formally represented on either the Commission on the Family or the Task Force on Security of the Elderly, I fully support the work of both groups and my officials will provide any assistance that may be required.
The Minister said that primary responsibility for the renewal of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work rests with the Department of the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach's views on the importance of this programme are well known. On the last occasion he said it was as exciting as a reheated TV dinner while on other occasions he said it was designed to let economic sleeping dogs lie and represented a triumph of bureaucracy over enterprise. Does the Minister share my view of the importance of the Programme for National Recovery and other programmes negotiated since 1987 and of renewing the programme? Does he intend to meet separately the unions, employers, IBEC etc.?
My views on the social partnership are well known as I have articulated them on many occasions in recent years. In fairness to the Taoiseach, the statements referred to by Deputy Burke were made when he was in Opposition. Matters are not always as clear in Opposition as they tend to become when one is in Government.
We had an example of that this morning and yesterday.
I assure the Deputy that the Government will approach the preparations for another programme in a spirit of social partnership. The Taoiseach will address this issue shortly. I meet the representatives of the unions on a regular basis as I have a responsibility to do so from a party point of view and otherwise. I hope we can agree a new programme with the social partners, including IBEC and farmers' representatives. Negotiations in this regard will take place later in the year.
Does the Minister share my concern about the hard hitting attacks made by the trade union movement on the Government's poor record on the Programme for Competitiveness and Work and the doubts expressed about whether it could negotiate another national programme with it? Does he agree that this serious warning could signal a major and unfortunate breakdown in the social consensus which has been of such benefit to the community?
I am aware of the remarks made by certain members of the union leadership in recent weeks and months and of the comments made by the representatives of business people, farmers and the unemployed who are also involved in the process. Notwithstanding those remarks, we will be able to enter negotiations with the social partners which, I hope, will lead to a social partnership and new agreement which will take us to the end of the century. We are all aware that social partnership has been of benefit to the economy, workers and business people who are in a better position to make plans for the development of their companies and employment. I hope we can all work together in the national interest.
May I——
Sorry, Deputy. Let us not forget that we are dealing with priority questions to which a rigid time limit applies. I cannot, therefore, dwell unduly long on any one question.
