Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:37 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the progress since 3 February 2000 of efforts to find a possible successor to Partnership 2000. [3302/00]
Written Answers. - Social Partnership.
Trevor Sargent
Question:38 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach to comment of the progress of the new national pay agreement. [3325/00]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:39 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the pay element of the draft national agreement. [3503/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 to 39, inclusive, together.
The negotiations on a new social partnership programme concluded on Monday evening last with the launch of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness by the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and myself.
This new programme sets out a very ambitious agenda. It outlines a comprehensive series of integrated economic and social objectives and sets out clear pathways through which they will be pursued.
At the launch of the negotiations on 9 November last, I set out the key challenges, from the Government's perspective, facing the social partnership process. These were to ensure that everyone can feel the benefit of social partnership recognising that, for many people, poverty and social exclusion are still a stark reality; to bring about real tangible improvements in living standards, not only in terms of income but also across the issues affecting the quality of people's lives, such as housing and transport; and to master the challenges posed by the information revolution, globalisation and EU enlargement, which dominate our changing world.
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness will not only address these challenges, but will also provide a solid basis for moving forward, in both economic and social terms. That captures the core objective and overall thrust of the NESC strategy report, which underpins and sets the context for the new programme.
The pay elements of the new programme acknowledge the enormous contribution which tens of thousands of employees have made in building the success which has been clearly self-evident throughout the past few years. It is proper and fair that this should be the case, so that all may experience in a meaningful way the benefits of economic growth.