The Combat Poverty Agency submission to the social partners, "Making a Decisive Impact on Poverty Through Social Partnership", is a constructive and broad ranging document which has, I understand, been forwarded to all parties to the partnership negotiations. It would not be appropriate for me, by commenting on the submission, to pre-empt these negotiations which are still in progress.
The outcome to these negotiations will be fully taken into account in the development of the next National Action Plan against Poverty and Social Exclusion which will cover the period 2006 to 2008. Preparation of the plan is being co-ordinated by the Office for Social Inclusion which is based in my Department.