Dick Spring
Ceist:34 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Labour if he will give an up to date report on progress towards the implementation of the EC Social Charter in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - EC Social Charter.
The Charter will be implemented through an action programme drawn up by the Commission in accordance with its right of initiative under the Rome Treaty. I expect that the first group of proposals arising from that action programme will be transmitted to the Council late in the Irish Presidency. These will include two draft directives — on atypical forms of employment and the adaptation of working time — on which the Commission has concluded or is concluding discussions with the social partners in a new procedure just instituted. Assuming the Commission proposals are available before the end of the Irish Presidency, we will initiate work on them and seek to advance them as far as possible. It will not be feasible, however, to bring any of the proposals to a conclusion in the very limited time that will be available for their consideration before the end of our term of office.
During the Irish Presidency, I have been emphasising that the action programme should be completed by the end of 1992 to coincide with the target date for the completion of the Internal Market. To that end, I have been concerned to give an initial impetus to the work on the implementation of the Charter through the Commission's action programme and at my initiative, a timetable for the presentation and processing of priority proposals to give effect to the Charter was agreed with the Commission and the two succeeding Presidencies. I am confident that this will help to ensure that the momentum for action is maintained.
In the wider perspective of the social dimension, the Irish Presidency has been giving priority to the development of a Community programme of action in favour of the long-term unemployed and I expect that a Presidency resolution on that subject will be adopted by the Social Affairs Council on 29 May. I look forward to the adoption at next week's Council of other Community measures concerned with vocational training, safety and health and other employment related matters — in all the outcome of a very successful Irish Social Affairs Presidency.