Vol. 501 No. 6
1 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the measures, if any, he will put in place to allow for greater partnership between employers and their workforces in view of his statement in a magazine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4267/99]
In welcoming the publication of the first edition of Partnership at Work, the bulletin of the National Centre for Partnership, in January of this year, I acknowledged the valuable contribution which social partnership has made to this country. In the first edition, which has been circulated to all Deputies, I also stressed the need for a much deeper partnership between employers and their workforces, particularly at enterprise level. With greater competition and the ever increasing rate of change in the modern world, an agreed union-management framework within which to respond to these issues in a non-adversarial manner is essential.
In this regard, the National Centre for Partnership has been actively engaged in pursuing its work programme, in conjunction with IBEC and ICTU, to promote the partnership approach in both the public and private sectors. The work programme for 1999 includes the provision of seminars and workshops to disseminate best practice and also training for managers, union representatives and employees. The bulletin highlights the specific initiatives that are now under way.
The bulletin is an important source of information on the development of partnership in Ireland and is a central element in the communications strategy of the centre in implementing its work programme. I wish the centre continued success with its activities.
I thank the Taoiseach for circulating the bulletin, Partnership at Work, the publi cation of which I welcome. In his article in the bulletin, he stated that there is still a need for greater partnership between employers and their workforces at enterprise level. Given that in his reply to my question the Taoiseach stated that he wishes the centre every success, does he intend to follow through on that? Has he abandoned his traditional role of trying to foster that partnership or will that role be now filled by the centre? If the latter is the case, does the centre have a timeframe within which it must complete its work?
The National Centre for Partnership, which was established under Partnership 2000, has worked with the trade unions and employers to develop a work programme which has the Government's support. I am satisfied the programme, funding for which has allowed the centre to hold seminars and conferences aimed at bringing unions and employers together, is working well and is promoting consideration of best practice and best concepts. During the past year there has been a significant development of partnership activities in the public and private sectors. By the end of this year we will have seen the single biggest growth in new management-trade union-employee structures in all sectors of the economy since the foundation of the State. The Government's job is not to interfere but to help the centre and work with it.
I understand the centre is not obliged to produce a regular report. Will a form of accountability other than stating that the Taoiseach is satisfied with its work be introduced in respect of the centre? Will the rest of us be made privy to the basis on which that satisfaction is based in the form of some type of report?
The centre is accountable in the form of its board, the membership of which includes a number of eminent people working in this area, and a liaison committee. Both the board and the committee are responsible for reporting to the Government under Partnership 2000. Last year they issued a report and I believe they intend to continue to issue reports on an annual basis.
