Vol. 492 No. 2
53 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance the input made by him and his Department into the employment action programme recently published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; the action, if any, that will be taken by his Department to meet the targets set out in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13699/98]
All of the relevant Departments, including my own Department, made an input to the National Employment Action Plan. The plan was published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, following consideration by the Inter Departmental Strategy Group for Employment and Unemployment and approval by Government.
The Department of Finance input was on the broad macro-economic content of the plan, including budgetary policy. The Deputy will be familiar with this material, which was expressed in broad terms. Basically, the input committed the Government to continue to adhere to the Maastricht criteria, including the Stability and Growth Pact, in order to provide a sound underpinning of employment policy, and to continue to reduce the tax burden on workers, so as to make employment more attractive.
