Alan Kelly
Question:1. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [5963/22]
View answerSocial Partnership Meetings
Questions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [6393/22]
View answer
Paul Murphy
Question:3. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [6396/22]
View answer
Louise O'Reilly
Question:4. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Taoiseach if he will consider expanding membership of the Labour Employer Economic Forum to include an organisation (details supplied). [6897/22]
View answer
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:5. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [7522/22]
View answer
Brendan Smith
Question:6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [7949/22]
View answer
Joe Flaherty
Question:7. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent engagements with the social partners. [7950/22]
View answer
Jackie Cahill
Question:8. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent engagements with the social partners. [7951/22]
View answer
Mick Barry
Question:9. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [7956/22]
View answer
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:10. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [8108/22]
View answerOral answers (15 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together.
The Government recognises the importance of regular and open engagement with all sectors of society. Social dialogue between Government, trade unions and other representative groups takes place through structures like the national economic dialogue, the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council and many sectoral groups and with Ministers and Departments directly.
In recent months, I have had a number of engagements with social partners in a variety of different formats. This includes through mechanisms such as the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which brings together representatives of employers and trade unions with Ministers to exchange views on economic and employment issues as they affect the labour market and which are of mutual concern. LEEF, which I chair, has met regularly to facilitate discussions on ongoing issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic and our economic recovery. The most recent meeting of LEEF took place on 3 February 2022 and discussions included Covid-19, economic outlook including inflation and the work of the LEEF subgroups.
Under the auspices of LEEF, there has been significant progress on issues such as the introduction of statutory sick pay, workplace safety during Covid-19 and the establishment of a high level review of collective bargaining. In addition to Government representation, the membership of LEEF is made up of a labour delegation led by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, and an employer delegation led by IBEC, which includes the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, and Chambers Ireland. This has been the case since the formation of LEEF in 2016 and reflects long-standing and established arrangements for engagement between Government, employers and trade unions on labour market issues.
LEEF is also just one of a wide range of engagement mechanisms which allow stakeholders make their views known to Government. There are many other national and sectoral business and employer organisations involved in other fora. Other engagements I have had with social partners include a series of meetings last year with representatives from the environmental pillar, community and voluntary pillar and farming and agriculture pillar to discuss how social dialogue can be strengthened as well as issues of concern to those sectors. I also met with those representing the fishing sector.
I look forward to continuing my engagements with the social partners in the period ahead as we continue to strengthen social dialogue and work collaboratively to tackle major challenges facing the country.
The cost of living is the dominant political issue at present. The package announced last week is a sticking plaster for the problems families and workers are facing. The private sector committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions met last week and recommended that unions seek pay rises in the range of 2.5% to 5.5%. Does the Taoiseach agree with workers seeking pay rises? The committee also sought to change the small benefits exemption rule to increase the limit from €500 to €1,000 for those earning up to €1,462 per week and for the values to be spread over multiple payments, for example, €100 per month. Has the Government ruled that out or is it under consideration?
There should also be a way to encourage private sector employers to reward front-line workers in retail, social care and other sectors who kept our country running during Covid-19 to benefit from a bonus for their work.
The Government Bill on the right to request remote working is at pre-legislative scrutiny stage. Will the Government ensure that every worker who was allowed to work remotely during the pandemic will be given the right to continue to access flexible working arrangements?
At a time when workers are rightly calling for pay increases to deal with the issue of inflation, I want to draw the Taoiseach's attention to the fact that Aer Lingus, a company that got a hell of a lot of public money during Covid-19, is forcing its ground operation workers to vote on a pay freeze until 2025 and, in some cases, take a 10% permanent pay cut on their restored duty allowances. This is a deal that 84% of the workers rejected before Christmas. The company is making them vote again and said it will outsource 100% of the operations if the workers do not accept this. That is outrageous. Aer Lingus is a company that went into Covid-19 with cash reserves of €900 million. Its cargo operations saw a significant increase in profitability even during the pandemic. Now, it is trying to impose pay cuts and tear up contracts and agreements with workers and drive their pay down. Does the Taoiseach think it is acceptable that a company which got so much public money during Covid-19 should be doing this to its ground operations workforce?
I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the treatment by Tesco of its retail security officers. These are essential workers who helped to keep our supermarkets open during Covid-19. Their work became a lot more stressful and difficult during that period. They are in their third year without a pay rise. Last week, instead of Tesco contacting them to offer them the pay rise they deserve after all the hard work they have done, it contacted them and stated that their jobs are being outsourced. They have a few weeks to decide and then they will either get a severance package or be transferred over to a private company, namely, OCS, where pay, conditions and terms firms will inevitably be downgraded.
The workers are outraged. I met with a number of them last week. They said there was no discussion with them whatsoever and that Tesco was simply attempting to ram through this outsourcing agenda. Does the Taoiseach agree that this is horrifically bad behaviour by Tesco? Does he agree that the outsourcing threat should be withdrawn and instead these workers should be recognised with a pay increase?
School secretaries have been fighting for fairness and equal and decent pay for years. They are absolutely essential to keeping our schools going. Our schools could not function without the school secretary at the heart of everything. They proved that, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Department of Education committed to placing secretaries on a public service incremental pay scale and give them a pay increase. In October 2020, the Tánaiste committed to regularising the employment terms and conditions and pension rates of school secretaries but they have been kept in limbo. There are two issues, one of which is with regard to where they are on the payroll and whether it is with the school or the Department. The other relates to the need for them to sign on during the summer months. It is the position of the Department and, therefore, the Government that they should sign on during the summer; not that this is the current situation but that it should be part of the offering. I do not believe that is at all acceptable. I hope the Taoiseach will agree it is not acceptable that as part of ensuring that we get school secretaries and caretakers decent pay and conditions, they would have to sign on during the summer. That is a ridiculous proposal.
I welcome the Taoiseach's engagement with representatives of the agrifood sector. I am thinking in particular at this time, unfortunately, of the very serious crisis in the pig meat sector. This sector is suffering huge losses at present, which threatens the viability of some pig units and farms throughout the country.
A number of factors are contributing to these difficulties. First, during Covid-19, there were staff shortages, which led to backlog in processing. Brexit has impacted very severely the value and volume of pig meat exports to Britain, which is our most valued and valuable market. Exports are down 50% since the beginning of last year. There is input price inflation and, of course, pig units are one of the highest users of direct energy in Irish agriculture. There are also other increased input costs.
The sector is worth €1 billion to the economy on an annual basis and is the third-largest sector within agriculture. The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Poland and Slovenia have introduced direct aid to pig producers and for the sector. We need the same level of direct aid to the sector immediately or there will be casualties and huge losses incurred by it, which will threaten the viability of many units. I appeal to the Taoiseach and the Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure a proper and adequate aid package is put in place as a matter of extreme urgency.
I have previously raised with the Taoiseach the matter of the stalling of the allocation of funding for the continued development of the N4 upgrade from Mullingar to Longford. It has now emerged that €6 million has been spent on the project to date. In the event of funding not being allocated this year, we risk that previous expenditure being wasted. The Taoiseach has committed to looking at the project. I urge him to treat it as a priority. It is essential for the midlands and the west.
I raise the issue of the horticultural sector and the harvesting of peat for 2022. Stakeholders have issued a report that was signed off by them and by the relevant Departments that put recommendations in place that would allow for the issuing of licences for the horticulture industry to harvest peat. I met with representatives of the industry last week who are extremely concerned that the relevant Department has issued a template for the securing of those licences that is unworkable, impractical and will not allow the issuing of licences for harvesting in 2022. Continuing with the importation of peat in this country is a farcical situation, it is environmentally unfriendly and it will be an economic disaster for the horticulture industry. The mushroom industry, in particular, cannot afford it. The cost base is not there and it cannot carry the cost of importation of peat. I urge the Taoiseach to consult with the relevant Department and let the recommendations of the working group be implemented in order to allow the issuing of licences for the harvesting of peat in 2022.
The following are the words of Mayo-based Tesco security worker Keith Leonard after 100 of the company's security officers were outsourced to OCS with just a couple of weeks' notice:
I have been spat at, threatened and beat up for this company over the last 16 years. Then on Tuesday, on my day off, the company called me to tell me my job is gone. It is upsetting and disrespectful and we all deserve so much better. How do I look my family in the eye when the mortgage company comes to take our home because Tesco took my livelihood away?
Workers like Keith were the heroes of the pandemic but look at how they are being treated now. Meanwhile, companies like Tesco did very well from the crisis. It increased its revenue by more than £1 billion from stores in the Republic of Ireland and the UK in the 2020-21 financial year. What steps does the Taoiseach intend to take to stop this gross injustice and other gross injustices of its kind from taking place on his watch?
I want to ask about standards in emergency shelters for homeless people. I have raised with the Taoiseach before issues around people sleeping in rooms without windows, not being issued with blankets or duvets or, in other instances, being issued with bloodstained sheets, and, in some cases, residents complaining of theft of personal belongings, including allegedly by staff who are not Garda vetted or properly trained. All of this is happening in hostels in receipt of public funds. A recent survey by Mendicity found that more than 98% of respondents had either been assaulted or had their belongings stolen while living in these publicly funded hostels. Will the Government make a decision to appoint HIQA to inspect emergency accommodation for homeless people?
The Taoiseach has four minutes to respond to the questions raised.
Deputy Ó Ríordáin asked about the cost of living measures and the remote working legislation. Suffice to say that the Government allocated approximately €1 billion in the most recent budget towards cost of living issues, from taxation relief of some €630 million to more than €500 million in respect of social protection measures. That was added to last week by a package of more than €500 million, which included cutting electricity bills by €200 and an increased fuel allowance payment of €125. That is on top of the €5 increase in fuel allowance, extended eligibility and extension of the season that were introduced in the budget. The drug payment scheme threshold has been reduced to €80, there is a front-loading of the working family payment, a 20% reduction in public transport from the end of April until the end of the year, which will help some 800,000 people who are currently using the services, and a reduction in caps for school transport fees for the next academic year. The package is not a sticking plaster. It is an effort on top of what was done in the budget to help people to get over the cost of living issue in terms of the inflationary cycle we are currently experiencing. We have to work with Europe, the European Central Bank and others in weathering this storm and navigating our way through it to ensure we do not undermine our economy and that we keep it on the track it is on at the moment, which is one of extraordinary growth and development and increased employment.
The remote working proposals are going through the pre-legislative scrutiny process and we will take on board people's input to that process. The Tánaiste will review the Bill once it gets through pre-legislative scrutiny. There is a balancing required in this and quite considerable work yet to be done on it.
In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, regarding any specific employment, we have a voluntarist system. We have the WRC and the Labour Court. There are mechanisms for workers' representatives to pursue issues. I would say to Aer Lingus that it should respect its staff, many of whom have given long service. The Government intervened and gave assistance to the company for two reasons: one, to protect workers and their jobs; and, two, because, let us be honest, aviation took an awful and extraordinary hit during the pandemic that went to the very core of viability, all over the world, of airlines, airports and so forth. There was a need to underpin and keep that which is essential to Ireland's connectivity because that connectivity is key to jobs, the economy and exports. We have had record exports from this country announced today, again because of our connectivity and the infrastructure around that connectivity.
The same applies to the situation at Tesco, which was raised by a number of Deputies. Again, there are labour relations mechanisms there for having these issued resolved. Workers' rights should be respected in regard to their entitlements to pensions, pay and conditions in any such transfers and there should be proper negotiation processes in that regard.
Deputy Ó Laoghaire raised the situation of school secretaries, which I dealt with earlier today on the Order of Business. There has been a lot of progress made in the discussions at the WRC. There was significant progress following discussions on 13 September last year. Subject to agreement on all elements of the claim, the Department of Education has offered to move school secretaries' pay rates to a scale that is aligned with the clerical officer grade 3 pay scale on a pro rata basis, according to secretaries' current working pattern. The Department has also offered to improve the conditions with regard to sick leave, annual leave and maternity provisions for this cohort of staff. Further dialogue has taken place between the parties on these issues since 13 September with the aim of reaching an overall agreement. The talks continued most recently at a meeting of the WRC on 26 January and the parties are to meet again later this month following reflection on matters discussed.
I will pursue the issue raised by Deputy Flaherty. It is a very important piece of information that €6 million has already been spent on the Mullingar to Longford road. I will again talk to the Minister about making sure we can get continued progress on that.
I will come back to Deputy Cahill on the issue he raised regarding the harvesting of peat. There have been legal impediments because of the European directives, court cases and so on, which have proved very problematic in terms of this matter. I will talk to the Minister about the issues the Deputy raised.
Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, to be fair, has consistently raised the issue to which he referred today. I will talk again to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. There are issues around capacity for HIQA in regard to what is proposed.
In the first instance, the funding agencies and the homeless fora in the different cities should be making sure that if they are allocating funding to emergency centres, they should meet certain basic standards.
We are way over time.
What about the pig meat sector?
I will talk to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, about the pig meat sector. I will also talk to the European Commission but I will talk to the Minister in the first instance. It is under huge pressure because of the wider issues pertaining to costs, input costs and so on. I will come back to the Deputy on that.
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Questions (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:11. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [6341/22]
View answerRichard Boyd Barrett
Question:12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7680/22]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:13. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7683/22]
View answer
Seán Haughey
Question:14. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7863/22]
View answerBrendan Smith
Question:15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7864/22]
View answerAlan Kelly
Question:16. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States. [7921/22]
View answerMick Barry
Question:17. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7957/22]
View answerOral answers (13 contributions)
I propose to takes Questions Nos. 11 to 17, inclusive, together.
The relationship between Ireland and the United States is deep and long-standing. It is important to the country in many ways, not least politically and economically. It is one to which I attach the highest value. I have had a number of contacts with the President of United States. Most recently, I spoke to him by telephone on 14 November last year. I also had the opportunity to speak to him in person last November in the margins of the world leaders summit at COP26, when he reaffirmed his full commitment to protecting the Good Friday Agreement. I expressed my appreciation for the strong position he has taken in that regard.
Last September, I participated remotely in the global vaccine summit that was hosted by President Biden at an event that coincided with the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. I also participated in the virtual summit for democracy that was hosted by President Biden in December. I look forward to continuing to work co-operatively and closely with the Biden administration, as well as with representatives of both parties in Congress, to deepen Irish-American relations, to strengthen European Union-US relations, to co-operate on global challenges and to support to many Irish people who have made a home in the United States.
It was also a pleasure to welcome the new United States Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin, and her family to Government Buildings on 10 February. I wish her every success during her time in Ireland. As the House will be aware, it was not possible last year to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the traditional way, with most events moving online. I am hopeful that in the change to more positive circumstances in which we now find ourselves, it will prove possible to return to more in-person events this year.
St. Patrick's Day is an important opportunity for us as a country to renew and celebrate our connections around the world. On 8 February, the Government announced our hope to undertake an increased programme of events around the world, where public health considerations allow. For my part, I hope it will be possible to resume at least some of the events in Washington DC that have traditionally marked St. Patrick’s Day.
I think we are all glad to see some signs of de-escalation over the Ukraine, with Russia withdrawing some troops from the Ukrainian border. Our Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, are very quick to be critical of a possible attack by the Russians on Ukraine, or the massing of troops on the Ukrainian border, both of which are totally unacceptable. Yet there is not a single word of criticism of NATO and of the United States for its role in cranking up and in escalating this situation, particularly through its eastward expansion of NATO. It was promised after the Cold War that this would not happen. Indeed, they never criticise the United States for its other support for authoritarian or brutal regimes. Yes, if the Government wants to criticise Putin for sideling up to Ukraine, that is good. However, will it criticise the United States for arming Saudi Arabia to the teeth, so that it can bomb the hell out of Yemen? There is no criticism. The Government criticises the Russians for planning to do military exercises in our exclusive economic zone. Will it now say it is unacceptable for the Americans or the British to do the same thing in our exclusive economic zone? Indeed, would it go even further and say United States military is not welcome in Shannon Airport when it is en route to conduct military operations elsewhere in the world?
As we know, Ireland enjoys a close relationship with the USA. The Taoiseach said that it is deep and long-standing. This relationship has been further enhanced with the election of Joe Biden as President. President Biden never misses an opportunity to proclaim his Irish roots. It is important for the Irish Government to engage with the US administration, with President Biden and with members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate. We need to engage on a number of issues, including the need for their ongoing support for the Northern Ireland peace process and the issues associated with that, which include Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol. We also need to continue to foster US investment in Ireland. Finally, there are the matters of concern to the Irish community living in the US, in particular to the undocumented Irish.
I hope the Taoiseach will travel to Washington for St. Patrick's Day and will meet President Biden. In the event that this occurs, what issues does the Taoiseach hope to raise with him? I presume these would be national, bilateral and international issues. Just as important, where stands the long-standing invitation to President Biden to visit Ireland? There have been press reports that he will be coming in July and that he will address both Houses of the Oireachtas. I presume that is speculation. Any information the Taoiseach could give us in that regard would be appreciated.
I hope that on his visit to the United States the Taoiseach’s will be able to again raise with President Biden the need to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland. Obviously, the issue of the undocumented Irish, to which my colleague, Deputy Haughey, referred, is of extreme importance to probably about 10,000 Irish citizens in the United States.
This would be an opportune time for the President of the United States to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland. In the past, very eminent persons, such as Senator George Mitchell, held that role. It was an important one. It adds an additional conduit for bilateral relations on a political, economic, social and trade basis. We are fortunate that members of Congress and of the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, as they say, have constantly taken an interest in and have passed resolutions in both Houses to endorse the Good Friday Agreement, as well as to express their concerns with the protocol. They have done this since 2016 regarding the adverse impacts Brexit would have on these islands. The appointment of a special envoy would again send a clear message to Ireland and to Britain about America’s strong relationship and its particular interest in ensuring that we have stability in the long term in Northern Ireland. At any time the Taoiseach has direct access to the US Government is extremely important for all of our island.
I am totally opposed to any attempt by the Putin regime to organise a Russian invasion of Ukraine. I am opposed to war and to conflict here. However, I am also opposed to the continuing expansion of NATO into eastern Europe. The Irish Government should support neither Washington nor Moscow. However, the Taoiseach’s Government is supporting an increasingly pro-NATO position. It is facilitating the build-up of NATO troops in eastern Europe. It is allowing the US war machine to refuel at Shannon Airport on its way to eastern Europe. When the Taoiseach meets the US President next month, will he tell him that Ireland is not a supporter of imperialism and of militarism, and that the refuelling facilities at Shannon Airport will no longer be made available to the US war machine?
A motion before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee today has been signed by 34 Members of Congress. It calls on the British Government to withdraw its amnesty Bill. Relatives for Justice, the Wave Trauma Centre, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, CAJ, and Geraldine Finucane are among some of those who will give evidence at today's hearing. Resolution 888 opposes any attempt by the British Government to implement amnesty or statute of limitation laws that would end or inhibit investigations or prosecutions committed during the Troubles, including on Bloody Sunday.
All of this takes place against the background of the latest police ombudsman report into 27 loyalist murders and attempted murders in south Belfast between 1990 and 1998. Has the Taoiseach discussed the British legislation with President Biden? Will he raise it when he meets the President next month? State involvement in the killings of democratically elected representatives and civilians must be investigated and the people involved must be charged to face due process.
Tá sé dochreidte go mbeadh gá dúinn é seo a rá agus tá sé inghlactha go bhfuil Rialtas na Breataine tar éis teacht aniar-aduaidh ar dhlí, cirt agus cóir sa tslí seo gan náire. Tá na híospartaigh, teaghlaigh, páirtithe polaitiúla agus eagraíochtaí cearta daonna go hiomlán ina choinne seo. Does the Taoiseach agree it is time to address the legacy of the past by implementing the mechanisms agreed at Stormont House in a humans rights compliant manner to ensure truth and justice for victims?
Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the Russia-Ukraine crisis. He and Deputy Barry said they would be critical of a possible attack by the Russians on Ukraine.
That is self-evident.
I welcome that. However, the point is that I do not see that the roles of NATO and Russia are comparable. Some 130,000 troops amassed on the border is a fairly intimidating prospect for any country and it is not justified. There are security issues that Russia can justifiably seek assurances on and dialogue is the best way to do that. There are well-worn international mechanisms for such dialogue, particularly in respect of the overall security architecture in Europe. The amassing of such a large force is very worrying in terms of basic security, basic peace and the ability of a country like Ukraine to carry out its business for its citizens with self-determination and freedom and without that enormous pressure over them. I would welcome any moves to de-escalate. It should never have gotten to this stage. Perhaps the Deputy should talk to some of the Baltic countries, countries like Poland and other countries that feel they need a presence given their history. They do not feel secure and that is just the honest position. If you talk to people in many of the eastern bloc countries that became democratic and joined the European Union, they are very fearful and feel vulnerable. We saw that only recently in Belarus, when the authoritarian Lukashenko regime orchestrated migrants from the Middle East and forced them over the borders into Lithuania and Poland in a brutal manner. There was brutal exploitation of migrants in order to undermine neighbours which were calling him out on the hijacking of a European plane in Belarusian airspace. This type of authoritarian behaviour is unacceptable. It needs to be called out-----
Call it out for Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
-----and should not be equivocated on either. There are issues in eastern Europe. We have the luxury of telling them how they should live and protect themselves but they are entitled, as democratic states, to organise their protection. They have fears and genuine vulnerabilities because of past experiences and we should acknowledge that. That said, sensible people should sit around a table. I pay tribute to President Macron for the work he has been doing and to the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who is engaging and talking through the issues. With those kinds of talks they are hopefully facilitating a de-escalation on the Russian side. The US Government has also engaged in a serious way in respect of the Russian security dimension and has put proposals on the table. That has now been acknowledged. We await those results and earnestly hope the conflict will be avoided, for the sake of the citizens of Ukraine who do not deserve to be living under such a threat.
Deputy Haughey is correct. We will hopefully get the opportunity to discuss with President Biden the situation in relation to Northern Ireland, the peace process more generally and the protocol. That is very important. We have a good relationship with the President and with Congress and we have maintained that. They and the President's office have been well briefed on the legacy issues, the proposals from the UK Government in respect of an amnesty and our position on that. The European dimension and the US-Europe relationship is also important and we will add our voice to that, as well as to the issue of the undocumented Irish and other initiatives. There is a standing open invitation to President Biden to visit Ireland, although that would obviously have to fit in with his schedule. Nothing has been arranged but I have invited him to come to Ireland and he would love to come as President of the United States.
Deputy Brendan Smith raised the matter of a special envoy, which is worth consideration and we will give it serious reflection. On the broader issue of stability in Northern Ireland, I think there is a genuine interest from the United States and its President in the protocol issue and how it is impacting on Brexit, the peace process and stability in Northern Ireland. We will take the opportunity to brief the US President on that as well.
On Deputy Barry's point in respect of the US and Russia, I would make the same points I made to Deputy Boyd Barrett. For all of what he might consider its faults and so on, politically Ireland is with democracy and we are fundamentally against authoritarian regimes. That is our broad position.
The Taoiseach has nothing to say about Saudi Arabia then.
I do. My view is that, generally speaking, the United Kingdom is our nearest neighbour and so we should get on with the United Kingdom and have a good relationship with it. Thankfully, in the last 30 years we have transformed relations with the United Kingdom, which is very positive.
With regard to Deputy Ó Laoghaire's point, there is a long history with the UK and Ireland. We are good neighbours and we should maintain that good neighbourliness and co-operation across the board. When Ireland was hit with a massive cyberattack the UK Government was helpful to us, as was the Polish Government because it had experienced one just before that. We are a member of the European Union. We have politically signed up to the European Union in that regard and we should also factor that in. The legacy issues have already been raised with the US President and his team and they are well aware of our position on that.
Departmental Strategies
Questions (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
James Lawless
Question:18. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach if he will report on Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, which was published by his Department on 1 February 2022. [6346/22]
View answerAlan Kelly
Question:19. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the publication of Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, published by his Department. [7922/22]
View answer
Cathal Crowe
Question:20. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach if he will report on Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, which was published by his Department on 1 February 2022. [7966/22]
View answer
John Lahart
Question:21. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach if he will report on Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, which was published by his Department on 1 February 2022. [7967/22]
View answerMary Lou McDonald
Question:22. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress made on the economic recovery plan published by his Department in May 2021. [7525/22]
View answerMary Lou McDonald
Question:23. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Government's Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework strategy. [7526/22]
View answerOral answers (9 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 23, inclusive, together.
The economic recovery plan, launched in June 2021, is helping to drive a jobs-rich recovery and support the transition towards a decarbonised and digital economy. It includes an overarching ambition of 2.5 million people in work by 2024. Crucially, these jobs will be more productive, innovative, resilient and in new areas of opportunity, aligned with our green and digital ambitions. The plan included labour market and enterprise supports, which budget 2022 and more recent announcements built upon. Importantly, the plan is about the sustainable rebuilding and renewal of our economy across four pillars, namely: helping people back into work; rebuilding sustainable enterprises; having a balanced and inclusive recovery; and ensuring sustainable public finances. These objectives are supported by investment, including through Ireland's national recovery and resilience plan, the revised national development plan, and the Brexit adjustment reserve.
A progress report on implementation will be published in the coming months, outlining the considerable progress to date, as reflected in a strong recovery in economic growth and employment during the second half of 2021. Overall employment levels recovered to exceed pre-pandemic levels at 2,471,200 as of the third quarter of 2021, or a Covid-adjusted level of 2,369,731, with employment increasing in all 13 economic sectors between the third quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2021. In the first nine months of 2021, the economy grew by approximately 14.5% in GDP terms and 12.9% in terms of GNP compared with the same period in 2020. Over the year, modified final domestic demand grew by 5.3%. Some examples of progress include the roll-out of activation and employment support through Pathways to Work; publication of the Housing for All strategy, which has resulted in more than 30,000 commencements in 2021; and the climate action plan 2021, which was published last October. In addition, a new national digital strategy, a commitment under the economic recovery plan, was published on 1 February.
Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework aims to position Ireland as a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments. It aims to drive and enable the digital transition across the economy and society, to maximise the well-being of our citizens, the efficiency of public services, the productivity and innovation of enterprise, and our overall competitiveness and sustainability. It places a strong emphasis on balance, inclusiveness, security and safety. Its ambitions are in line with EU priorities, under the Digital Decade 2030.
Harnessing Digital is structured around four dimensions, in line with the EU's digital compass: digital transformation of business; digital infrastructure; skills; and digitalisation of public services. Targets, high-level work streams and associated deliverables focus on: our determination to help businesses to advance their digital transformation, particularly SMEs, to sustain Ireland's attractiveness as a location for leading digital enterprises and to maximise benefits for the wider ecosystem; the importance of digital infrastructure enablers, namely, universal connectivity and robust cybersecurity capacity and expertise; skills for all to ensure society can engage with and benefit from digitalisation; and driving further digitalisation of public services, with a focus on the health system.
It also sets out our commitment to continue to build a modern, cohesive, well-resourced network of regulators to effectively oversee and enforce digital regulations. The Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment oversees implementation of both Harnessing Digital, and the broader economic recovery plan, while relevant Ministers retain responsibility for individual policies and actions.
The Government's digital framework strategy commits to build a strong well-resourced network of regulators to oversee and enforce digital regulation which must ensure the safety of all. Fáiltím go bhfuil admhaithe sa straitéis seo go gcuirfear le chéile coimisinéir sábháilteachta ar líne chun córas a chur ar bun do shábháilteacht ar líne.
The progress on this issue is glacial. All the issues in regard to online bullying and online harassment evolve and change at a rapid pace and the Government's and the previous Government's response has been far too slow. This is an enormous social issue, and the Taoiseach knows that. Online bullying and online harassment destroys lives. It is bad enough for children to be bullied at school or for people to be bullied at work but it then follows them home. That is the problem with this.
There is an issue in regard to an individual complaints mechanism. It is incredible that we are setting up an expert group at this stage when I proposed a Private Members' Bill in 2018 which had passed Second Stage and had the support of the committee that proposed it. This idea has been out there for a long time. This has still not been established on an administrative basis. When will it happen and will there be an individual complaints mechanism?
On economic recovery, the Taoiseach is often fond of saying, rightly, that we should support people who are working. I have asked the Taoiseach repeatedly about the plight of people who are working but who are punished because their income goes over the social income threshold.
I have mentioned multiple cases to the Taoiseach over recent weeks. I had another case this week of a young man who works in retail and who worked all during the pandemic in a supermarket. His partner is also working. Due to working overtime during the pandemic, his income has gone over the threshold and he has been taken off the housing list. I asked the Taoiseach last week - he did not answer this - to tell us when the review of the income thresholds will happen so that this stops happening. The review has been promised for five years now. If the Taoiseach wants to support people in work, will he raise that threshold? When will this review be completed?
In terms of online safety, very significant progress has been made. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, as Deputy Ó Laoghaire will be aware, recently brought a memorandum to Government on that issue, in terms of establishing a commission - an online safety regulator. That was approved by Cabinet. There is a range of work that still has to be undertaken. It is a mammoth task because it is also linked in with the Future of Media Commission.
In terms of online safety, on that issue around the individual complaints mechanism, we want a system that works. Ideas are plentiful but we have got to make sure there is operational capacity to deliver on-----
It is not that-----
-----the multitude of ideas people have in regard to this. Very significant resources will be required for this. Also, the legislation is continuing apace, as the Deputy will be aware. We will deliver this in respect of the safety issue because it is very important for citizens in respect of the harm that can be done online to people. There is no question, in regard to bullying, in particular, of young people, that it is a matter of the gravest concern and we have to get it right.
It makes sense to set up an expert group. Passing a Private Members' motion is just that. It does not give you the beef or the capacity to deliver something. It needs to be thought through to make sure we get it right.
In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, I have answered that previously.
The review.
There is a three-pronged approach being undertaken by the Minister in respect of the broader issue of social housing. There was a modest change recently in some counties, where the income threshold was increased, but not enough in terms of it not being a national decision. The Minister is continuing to consider that in regard to the income threshold for social housing.
The longest consideration ever.