Ciarán Cuffe
Question:151 Mr. Cuffe asked the Taoiseach if he will consider participation by the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament in social partnership. [7897/03]
Written Answers - Social Partnership.
There is a commitment in the programme for Government to review models of participation in social partnership, particularly from the point of view of maximising the efficiency of the process and the potential contribution of the diverse and vibrant community and voluntary sectors. In this context, a number of organisations have applied for inclusion in the social partnership process, including the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament.
My Department has met with all the organisations concerned. It was stressed at those meetings that, given the nature of the partnership process, any changes would be an outcome of the ongoing negotiations and that it was an inherent part of the process that any proposals for change would be discussed with the relevant pillar, in this instance the community and voluntary pillar. This process is continuing. I envisage that it will be possible to finalise the future participation arrangements in the near future.