Mary Flaherty
Ceist:2 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the achievement of the Irish Presidency of the EC in the area of (i) harmonisation of social security and (ii) poverty.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers. - EC Presidency Decisions.
Michael Creed
Ceist:25 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the recent Council of Social Security Ministers meeting addressed the issue of European poverty; if the Presidency raised the issue; and if any new initiatives are planned.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Ceist:29 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the major issues which arose at the recent informal meeting of EC Social Security Ministers; the priorities for action which were identified; and the measures which will have general agreement.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 25 and 29 together.
I consider that it is essential that the whole issue of social protection be brought to the forefront of EC Council business during the run up to 1992.
There is a danger, that in pursuit of the maintenance of economic competitiveness in the Single Market, levels of social protection may be reduced in real terms. This is particularly so, given the increased burdens which social protection systems in all member states will have to bear arising from the common problems they face, including high levels of unemployment, the ageing of the population and changes in family structures.
The policies adopted by individual member states to deal with these problems in the years ahead could also lead to a further divergence in the already very different social security systems of member states. This could have the effect of further exacerbating the imbalances in this area between the different regions of the Community and placing a brake on the freedom of movement of workers.
Freedom of movement may also be impeded by the inadequacy of the existing arrangements at Community level for the protection of the social security entitlements of workers who move to other member states either to take up employment or, if unemployed, to seek employment. Many highly skilled workers depend to a significant degree for their pension cover on occupational pension schemes and existing EC Regulations on social security do not apply to such schemes. The protection afforded by these regulations to migrant workers who are unemployed, in particular those unemployed for long periods, is also unduly restrictive.
The Informal Council of Ministers for Social Security in Ashford Castle on 26-27 April 1990, which I hosted, afforded Ministers an opportunity to focus on the implications of the Single Market for social protection and to establish a consensus on what the priorities for action should be at both national and Community levels. Broad agreement was reached on the importance of ensuring that: the completion of the Single Market will result in a real improvement in the living standards and levels of social protection afforded to all Community citizens; and that the future development of social protection systems in the Community contributes to its economic and social cohesion.
The exchange of views made a significant contribution to the establishment of a consensus on the need for a strategy of convergence of social protection objectives and policies, if these aims are to be achieved. This would involve the development of an agreed set of objectives for social protection, with member states being committed to the gradual introduction of appropriate measures, having regard to levels of economic development and financial capacity, to meet the objectives.
Progress in achieving the objectives would be monitored at Community level. Arrangements would also be made to enable member states to exchange information and compare experiences on the effectiveness of their social protection systems in achieving the objectives. Such a process would greatly contribute to the evolution in a converging manner of systems of social protection throughout the Community in the years ahead.
The Commission was encouraged to expedite the work in this area in consultation with the senior officials of the member states, with a view to bringing forward proposals before the end of 1991, in line with the commitments in this regard in its action programme, relating to the implementation of the Community Charter of Basic Social Rights for workers.
There was also broad agreement on the need to improve the co-ordination of social security systems with a view to eliminating all obstacles to the free movement of workers. Priority will be given, in this regard, to the protection of entitlements under occupational pension schemes in the case of workers who change jobs and/or move to other member states. The Commission was also encouraged to bring forward proposals which would provide that unemployed persons, who wish to move to a country with which they have close ties, may retain their rights to unemployment payments.
The developments in the area of social protection which have now been initiated will have a major impact on tackling poverty at European level. In addition, the third Community programme to combat poverty was launched in March 1990. This programme will last for five years and has a total budget of 55 million ECUs. Through the programme the Community is supporting 39 pilot projects, including large-scale model projects and smaller innovative projects. Three of the projects are located in Ireland, one in north-west Connemara, one in Limerick city and a smaller project in Dublin working with travellers. The aim of the programme is to identify effective strategies for tackling poverty throughout the Community.
As part of the 3rd programme I hosted a major EC conference in Galway in June on the role of voluntary or non-governmental organisations in delivering social services and tackling poverty. The conclusions of the conference will be an important input in the context of the future development of the role of voluntary organisations in Ireland and in the Community.
I agree with the Minister when he says that social security Ministers are operating in a hostile environment given the need for financial rectitude, but is it not the case that social affairs were put on the back burner during the Presidency? Can the Minister explain the reason that social affairs took up all of three paragraphs of the 39 page communique issued after the final meeting of the Presidency?
As I explained in my initial reply on the social security and social welfare aspects of the work of the Community, the question of social security is now back on the agenda and we got agreement in principle to deal with this question in the run up to 1992. At present the Commission are in the process of preparing a set of objectives for the Community with a view to bringing forward proposals before the end of 1991. In holding the Informal Council of Ministers we provided Ministers with the opportunity to come together and make their views at this time known to the Commission. They welcomed that opportunity and I hope it will be followed up during the Italian Presidency.
Deputy-Flaherty rose.
May I again appeal for brevity, for obvious reasons?
Is the Minister aware that concern was expressed at the recent meeting of the executive of the European trade union movement, even though they accept that some progress was made during the Irish Presidency who succeeded in getting the issue back on the agenda, that time is running out? Will the Minister give a commitment to redouble his efforts? Having regard to the major political changes in Europe there is a clear need to speed up the process to ensure that we will have something of substance on the social side to offer to the European worker in 1992.
The simple answer is yes.
Thank you, that will do fine.
I wish to pay tribute to my civil servants for the work they put into the preparation of the material required for the Informal Council of Ministers. When you are holding an Informal Council it is up to yourself to get the material together. That has provided a very useful initiative and one which the Commission has taken up. Therefore, I am happy with the position.