Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Training and Human Resources White Paper.

Mrs. O'Rourke

I am raising this issue on the Adjournment because of the commitment in the programme, A Government of Renewal, that a White Paper on training would be published — that was two years and three months ago — and the “inspired leaks” I have read in the newspapers in the past few days which indicate that Minister Bruton is intent on making radical changes in the FÁS organisation. Has the Minister discussed those in full with the unions? It was proclaimed by the Government in December 1994 that it would be published at an early date and that once it was published the Minister for Enterprise and Employment would initiate a major public debate on its proposals which would lead to the setting up of a national certification training board. There is hardly time now for a major national debate about anything.

Since that promise was given I have asked many times about the promise of a White Paper, at Question Time and during other debates. At various stages I was told it was being prepared by the Department, then that outside consultants had been brought in — outside consultants are flavour of the day, week, month, year as far as this Government is concerned. In January of this year I asked a parliamentary question and again I was told it would be ready shortly. On 6 March the Minister promised that a White Paper on training, which has become the White Paper on Human Resource Development, will shortly be going before the Government and, presumably, will then be published. The Minister then said it was his intention to put the White Paper before the Government prior to Easter. This week's media reports are to the effect that the White Paper has still not gone to Government. The Minister is now seeking a meeting with three party leaders on the matter, but as everybody in the Government has the one opinion on everything, that should not pose too much of a difficulty. I am calling on the Minister to state when the White Paper will go to Government and when or if it will ever now be published.

I am also calling on the Minister to state the implications for FÁS of the draft White Paper. We continue to read that the trade unions and the Minister's Cabinet colleagues believe that FÁS will be disbanded under the Minister's proposals and that there is major Cabinet and Government opposition to this, especially as it appears that the Minister did not consult the unions or FÁS on the proposals, even though they were renegotiating a restructuring package.

I know the Minister went to Ardagh in County Longford last week and had a courteous and cursory meeting, but it was not a full negotiating meeting. These proposals will radically affect those negotiations, or so we are led to believe. Have the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the leader of Democratic Left, Deputy Prionsias De Rossa, agreed to those proposals? One may well ask the question because the media reports I read signal that the Minister for Finance is not happy with the proposals and that he has sternly put his oar into the debate.

The purpose of my question is to find out where is the White Paper, when we will have the major national debate, and the status of negotiation with FÁS.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East): I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Richard Bruton, who is unavoidably absent this afternoon.

The Government is fully committed to developing an education and training system which meets both the needs of individuals and the skill requirements of a growing and competitive economy. The White Paper on Education, which was published in 1995, was the first stage of the Government's commitment in this regard. This White Paper sets out a comprehensive plan for the development of an education system which will prepare people for life and the world of work.

The White Paper on Human Resource Development will contain strategies aimed at complementing and giving added value to the outcomes of the education system. This document is one of a number of key national strategy papers that will constitute the framework and focus for employment policy into the next century. Strategy documents on the labour market and the services sector have already been published, as well as a White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation. The importance of the human resources factor in this overall framework cannot be underestimated.

The primary objectives of the human resources White Paper will be to outline the strategies, programmes and structures which will encourage and support Irish business in improving its overall skills and thus enhance its capacity to prosper in an increasingly competitive, national and international business environment, and improve the knowledge and skills of individuals in, or wishing to enter, the labour force. The State has a particular responsibility in relation to those on the margins of the labour force because of the clear link between unemployment and low educational and skills attainment.

In preparing the White Paper, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment has been particularly conscious of the need to encourage and facilitate individuals in committing themselves to the lifelong learning process with a view to keeping their knowledge and skills up to date. It is essential that a culture of lifelong learning is created and nurtured to help us to cope with the changes taking place in the workplace and in work patterns. The days of one job for life are to a large extent gone. Contract and part-time work is increasing, particularly among women. There is a move to increased team working within business. There are new management techniques — total quality management, world class manufacturing and so on. Firms are organising themselves differently. It is equally important that individuals on the margins of the labour force be encouraged, supported and facilitated to develop the skills and knowledge that will enhance their prospects of securing gainful employment.

In preparing the White Paper, the Minister has also been particularly conscious of the need to ensure that strategies are cohesive and realistic. The Department has, therefore, undertaken careful examination of the current state of play regarding human resource development issues, and has investigated where national policy in this regard should lead in the future. To assist in this work there has been widespread consultation with interested parties, including employer representatives, trade unions and educational and training bodies. These discussions have been on the broad direction of human resource development and the approaches which would be most beneficial. Indeed, there are some indications in Partnership 2000 to the approach which will effectively equip us to deal with human resource issues into the 21st century.

The consultative and drafting approach, which was very time consuming, has been completed, and I expect the White Paper to be considered by the Government in the near future. When the Government makes its decision on the proposals contained in the White Paper, the Minister will make them known and implement them in consultation with all concerned parties.