John Bruton
Ceist:4 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to meet with the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6276/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Meetings with Social Partners.
Under the terms of Partnership 2000, and as part of the monitoring procedures, I attend an annual meeting with all the parties to the agreement. In respect of 1997, I fulfilled that undertaking at the July meeting. I also regularly meet the individual social partners, both on a formal and informal basis.
Having regard to the large number of organisations represented in Partnership 2000, it would not be practical to report on all such meetings, whether planned or having already taken place. I propose, however, to report to the House on any meetings between myself and each of the four social partnership pillars as groupings. I can confirm that I intend to meet the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed in the near future.
While I appreciate the Chair does not have control over the Taoiseach's replies, will he guide me as to whether the Taoiseach may answer about some meetings and not about others? It seems the INOU should be treated as importantly as other bodies and any meetings with it should be reported in the same way as meetings with the ICTU, IBEC or any other such body.
The Chair has no control over the content of replies.
When does the Taoiseach expect to meet the INOU? Does he recollect the agitation from these benches when his party was in Opposition for the recognition of the INOU as a social partner? It was recognised as such for the first time by the Government I led. Does he agree there is considerable dissatisfaction among the long-term unemployed because people are discriminated against on age grounds? While there are employment opportunities for young people, it is difficult for the long-term unemployed aged over 25 or 30 years to get an interview, let alone a job, because of a record of unemployment. What steps does the Taoiseach propose to take to ensure that the long-term unemployed aged over 25 years are given an opportunity to take some of the work available, and that employers do not discriminate against them, either on grounds of their address or record of unemployment, which ought not to be held against them?
I meet the social partners several times a week, in one form or another — either at partnership, co-ordinating or competitiveness meetings. If I reported on each meeting, whether with IBEC or farmers, it would be endless. I have meetings and contact with presidents or general secretaries on their own or with their regional branches. As partnership is based in the Department of the Taoiseach, I meet the partners on a continuous basis, both formally and informally. It is reasonable to report on meetings with the organisations in their role as pillars of the structure set down in Partnership 2000. The social partners would not want me to give details on many of the casual meetings concerned with small matters.
I will meet the INOU shortly. I am not sure of the date — it is in my diary and is this side of Easter. The Government will do what it can to help initiatives for the long-term unemployed. Long-term unemployment has fallen dramatically from 130,000 to 86,000 in recent times. The budget included a number of measures designed to help the unemployed. The main one is the special tax allowance of £3,000 for the long-term unemployed in the first year of employment. This is a good proposal which has been widely welcomed and will be successful. I hope the double tax reduction for wages for employers who employ a long-term unemployed person will also work well. There was an increase of 5,000 places on the back-to-work allowance scheme which has been successful in reintegrating large numbers of long-term unemployed in employment. These schemes and the community employment scheme have given people a great opportunity to return to the workforce.
An additional 1,000 places on the part-time jobs option scheme and 1,000 places on the job initiative scheme were also made available, as recommended by the social partners some time ago. There have also been improvements to the family income supplement. The Government will continue to give every assistance it can to the long-term unemployed, regardless of their age, through training and other schemes. It is important that anyone who is unemployed is given an opportunity to gain employment.