Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
67 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the recent call made by the president of SIPTU for the establishment of a separate Department of Labour; the Government’s views on the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33744/04]
View answerThe Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is structured in a way which recognises that enterprise and employment are complementary rather than competing factors. Calls for alternative configurations, such as that advocated by the president of SIPTU, appear to stem from a flawed concept that places jobs and welfare at work in competition with enterprise. The Government has a different and more positive view — one that seeks to grow the quality and number of jobs by growing trade and enterprise.
Only by growing our competitiveness, increasing our trade performance and expanding enterprise performance can we produce sustainable high quality jobs. Similarly, only by ensuring that we have a well-trained and confident workforce, which enjoys the protection of our health and safety and employment rights legislation, can enterprise flourish.
Since 1993, when the Department was established in its current formation, we have seen jobs and real wages growing at unprecedented levels. We have introduced the national minimum wage and seen a significant improvement in the legislative framework protecting workers. The welfare of workers, especially those most exposed to low incomes, has been transformed during this period. This has also helped sustain, and be sustained by, a parallel and unprecedented improvement in trade and enterprise performance. This is incontrovertible evidence that our pro-enterprise and pro-jobs policies have made a real difference.
While the factors supporting this transformation are manifold and social partnership clearly played its part, it is clear that the current configuration of my Department is right for Ireland and this was affirmed by Government following the last election. I am therefore, strongly opposed to any attempts to change this successful structure.
