Liz McManus
Question:41 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if has had discussions with farm organisations regarding their involvement in social partnership talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8838/03]
Written Answers - Social Partnership Agreement.
Social partnership had been shown to be the major driver of economic success and has delivered many benefits to the farming community as well as to all other sectors. The fact that other social partners namely the union and employer pillars have agreed to participate in the new agreement, notwithstanding current economic difficulties, makes it even more important for farmers to be represented in this process.
Although the time frame for completion of the new agreement, Sustaining Progress, is now short, I remain hopeful that the farming pillar will continue to be fully involved in partnership and I will make every effort to bring this about. To this end, certain contacts have and are taking place to establish if the farming pillar can enter this new agreement as they have done on the previous five occasions. It is no secret that the current round of partnership talks have taken place in a difficult economic environment. However, social partners have overcome many difficulties since the instigation of the whole partnership process in 1987. Partnership has served farmers well, and I applaud their contribution to the partnership process over the years and their input into the series of previous agreements. I, like all my other col leagues in the Government, would like that input to continue.