John Bruton
Question:30 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Central Review Committee is scheduled to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10087/99]
Written Answers. - National Agreement.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:31 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the Government's views on the negotiation of a new national agreement to replace Partnership 2000; the preliminary discussions, if any, which have taken place with the social partners regarding the possibility of such an agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10103/99]
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:32 Mr. Broughan asked the Taoiseach the representations, if any, made by organisations seeking to be part of the next national agreement and whose members are primarily dependent on social welfare for their income; and the recommendations, if any, he made to Government regarding this process. [10341/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 to 32, inclusive, together.
The National Economic and Social Council has been asked to prepare a new strategy report which will form the basis for a successor to Partnership 2000. Work on that report is well advanced and it is likely to be completed before the summer. It is envisaged, at this stage, that substantive negotiations on a new partnership agreement will get under way towards the end of the year – probably September or October. In addition, the Department of Finance and other public service employer organisations are continuing their discussions with the public services committee of ICTU. The key aims of these discussions are to explore the position on public service pay policy and to devise a new approach to determining public service pay in the period following Partnership 2000.
With regard to the prospects for a successful outcome to negotiations on a new agreement, I believe that all the social partners share a firm belief in the enormous contribution which social partnership has made to the transformation of the Irish economy. Against that background, there is every reason to be confident that negotiations on a successor to Partnership 2000 will yield a positive outcome. On the issue of representation in those negotiations, no application of the precise kind inquired about has been received.
In response to Deputy Bruton's question, the next plenary meeting of Partnership 2000 will take place on Tuesday 27 April. The main themes for discussion are modernising the public service and enterprise, jobs and small business.