I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
I want the social partnership process to be as inclusive as possible. I have received requests from a number of organisations for inclusion in the Central Review Committee which monitors the implementation of national programmes but it is not possible to accommodate all of these.
The existing committee is working well and I have no plans to change it. However, I intend to ensure that in the preparation of any new programme, mechanisms will be developed to allow for a contribution from a wider number of groups than at present, including ISME. Contributions by these groups would be limited to particular areas of direct relevance to their members.
The inputs of NESC and NESF in developing a framework for any new national programme have been sought. I have requested the council of NESC to prepare a strategy report which will inform the negotiations on any new programme and the NESF, which has an even wider range of representation than the NESC, has also been invited to prepare a report on the elements and consultative process for a new programme. The INOU — the organisation for the unemployed — is represented on both NESC and NESF.
I am aware of concerns expressed by a number of social partners as to a new programme and the need to develop the partnership approach at company level. Social partnership as a whole has served Ireland well. Taxation changes, including increased allowances, widened bands and other improvements such as increases in children's allowance over the last three budgets, have contributed to increased net real pay, and most significantly for those on low pay with families. For example, between 1993 and 1995 net real pay, for a married single-earner household with two children on the average manufacturing wage, has increased by 5.4 per cent, and for a similar family on three quarters of this wage, the increase has been almost twice that at 9.8 per cent. As partnership has served the country well, it would be unwise for Government, employers, farmers and trade union members to abandon it lightly to return to local bargaining. However, the Government will be concerned to ensure that the terms of any new national programme will meet the economy's need for competitiveness and continued fiscal responsibility in the interests of tackling unemployment and meeting the European Monetary Union criteria.