Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 2

Written Answers. - National Agreements.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

34 Mr. O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the specific steps the Government intends to take to meet the commitment in the national agreement, Sustaining Progress, to extending and deepening the partnership process in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12277/03]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

There are a number of important initiatives set out in the new agreement, Sustaining Progress, that address the commitment to deepening the partnership process in the workplace.

Under the terms of the agreement the national centre for partnership and performance will play an increasing role in supporting the process of extending and deepening partnership and performance in the workplace. The agreement identifies a number of specific projects which will be carried forward by the centre to address these matters. These include the establishment of a forum on the workplace of the future, a joint project with FÁS to promote a learning culture in organisations, and the development and dissemination of best practice in the area of partnership and performance. Case studies of good practice in the private sector have already been published and further examples will be published in the near future.

The centre will also develop a national training strategy to assist those involved in organisational change through partnership and guidelines on the different forms of employee financial involvement. It will initiate a project aimed at improving practices and procedures in relation to information, consultation and participation rights in the context of the Information and Consultation Directive. It will also promote existing joint partnership training materials as developed by IBEC and ICTU. These projects will make a significant contribution to organisational change and modernisation in the coming years. They have the full support of the social partners,

In addition to initiatives set out in the new agreement the centre recently launched two important tools to assist organisations in managing change and improving performance in their organisations. These are a competency framework on managing change through partnership, and a learning by monitoring system, which includes an interactive website facility to support change through partnership.

Each of the initiatives will play a part in extending and deepening the partnership process. However, the Government attaches particular significance to the establishment, later this year, of a forum on the workplace of the future. It will facilitate an indepth discussion on how workplaces can best adapt to competitive pressures, improve the delivery of services and respond to the changing needs and preferences of employers.