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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 4

Ceisteanna–Questions. - National Economic and Social Council.

John Bruton

Question:

2 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the title and publication date of the next report from the National Economic and Social Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13615/99]

As I indicated to the House on 10 February last, the main work of the council during 1999 will relate to the preparation of a new strategy report to provide a basis for a national agreement in succession to Partnership 2000. A detailed outline and several chapters of the strategy have already been discussed by the council. It is expected that the strategy will be completed by late September or early October.

The council is continuing its studies on benchmarking, profitability at national and sectoral level and housing with a view to completing these when work on the strategy is finished.

Will the Government representatives on the NESC ensure that the strategy committee deals with the vulnerability of the economy in terms of the small number of sectors, including the electronics and pharmaceutical industries, as adverted to by the Governor of the Central Bank?

That will be considered. The Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance always take due account of statements made by the Governor of the Central Bank. The 1999 strategy report will deal with the issue of where Ireland wishes to be positioned as a society and an economy in ten years. The report will also consider what underpinning is required to deliver that strategy and examine in the next three years the implications of those developments over the next ten years. The remarks of the Governor of the Central Bank fall within that remit.

Will the committee deal with the vulnerability of the economy to the gross over-valuation of the US stock market and the serious risks to the Irish economy a fall in that market would create?

In preparing the strategy for the next ten years, all economic realities, both domestic and international, should be examined. They will be considered by those on the National Economic and Social Council and others working on the NESC strategy group.

What is the timeframe for the report and the contemplation of all the measures?

They have been working on it since November. A number of chapters have already been debated.

What is the forward timetable?

A decade. I hope they will be finished by then.

Will the body deal with the prospects for agriculture? Will the work of the committee, which was recently established under Mr. O'Neill, feed into it?

It should, but that group is only starting its work. It has a broader remit regarding developments over the next 30 years. It will carry out a fundamental examination of agriculture. However, in terms of the social partners, I am sure the representatives of the agriculture pillar will ensure the document is included in the deliberations. The group under Mr. O'Neill is not at a stage where it could give anything other than preliminary views.

Given that agriculture is an integral part of the economy, does the Taoiseach agree the Government made a mistake in commencing a study on it so late that it could not be integrated into the national strategy?

Agriculture is an extremely important industry and deserves its own analysis. Work is ongoing but it was decided to wait until after we knew the position in relation to the completion of the Agenda 2000 discussions in Berlin. Otherwise, a group would have been working in the dark because it would not have known the blueprint for agriculture for the next six to seven years. As soon as the position was known, we moved to establish the group.

That was a mistake. The results of the Agenda 2000 discussions were more or less predictable. It would have been much better to commence the work of the O'Neill committee earlier.

It was not a mistake.

If Deputy Bruton thought it was a good idea, he should have set up a group a few years ago when he was in a position to do so. I am amazed he did not do so.

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