Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 1997

Vol. 483 No. 1

Written Answers. - EU Jobs Summit.

David Stanton

Question:

54 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance if the Government intends to submit proposals at the EU Jobs Summit, which will take place in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 November 1997, to make fiscal and social insurance policies in Europe more employment friendly; if he will outline the nature of the proposals, if any, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19648/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment all participated on behalf of the Government, in yesterday's Dáil statement on the Special European Council on Employment to be held in Luxembourg tomorrow and on Friday.

In addition, the Government laid before the Dáil a written statement of the Irish position on employment and on the Special Council. A copy of the statement is being provided also to the Heads of State and Government in advance of the Special Council meeting.

It will be evident to the Deputy from these developments that the Government is a very active participant in the Special Council. I have been involved in preparatory discussions in the ECOFIN Council that are designed to ensure a successful outcome at the Special Council.

A number of developments are expected to emerge from the Special Council of which two are particularly significant.

First, an agreement on employment guidelines to be implemented by the member states. Progress on implementation of these guidelines will be monitored through national action plans to be prepared by each individual member state.

Second, a financial package under which the European Investment Bank will provide an additional one billion ECU for investment in projects with job-creation potential, particularly in small and medium sized enterprises. The EIB contribution is expected to be complemented by a special allocation of an initial 150 million ECU from the EU Budget for employment measures.

It is confidently expected that these two measures — the guidelines and the financial package — will be adopted by the Special Council which will thereby provide a visible impetus to employment policy in the Community.

The Government fully supports the initiatives that I have described and is confident that the Special Council will be the success that we all wish for.

While Ireland is making good progress in employment in recent years and have reduced the unemployment level, we still have an unemployment rate of about 10 per cent, which is unacceptably high. We have a definite interest in joining with our EU partners in the further measures now envisaged to tackle unemployment in the EU and in the individual member states.

The Government will continue to place the employment issue at the top of its agenda and that we will follow up vigorously in implementing the agreement reached at the Special Council.