John Bruton
Ceist:16 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the National Economic and Social Council. [22926/98]
Written Answers. - National Economic and Social Council.
John Bruton
Ceist:17 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he has fixed a date for a meeting with ICTU for the Government to open discussions on an agreement to succeed Partnership 2000. [22928/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:18 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach the main points made in his speech to the first meeting of the new NESC on 4 November 1998 and, in particular, his proposals regarding a performance related pay structure within the public service. [22930/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 18, inclusive, together.
My speech at the inaugural meeting of the NESC on 4 November 1998 has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. In my address, I asked the council to prepare a new strategy report which would form the basis for a successor to Partnership 2000. I suggested that this should reflect a vision for Ireland as an economy and as a society over a ten year period and should outline the steps to be taken within a three year programme to progress that vision. This should take account, in particular, of globalisation, EMU and the need to modernise our systems for managing domestic policy issues. I invited the council to explore innovative solutions to tackle problems such as the tightening labour market and the opportunities created by a sharp easing of the population dependency ratio for the next decade or so.
Partnership 2000 has over a year to run and, therefore, the Government, properly, is focused on implementing the current agreement. This approach, however, is being complemented by putting in place the necessary arrangements to prepare a basis upon which a new programme may be negotiated with the social partners. The work of the NESC and the NESF is an important contribution to that process.
Substantive discussions have not yet commenced on a successor to Partnership 2000. However, I signalled in my address to the P2000 plenary meeting in July, and again at the inaugural meeting of the NESC, that there is a need to develop a new approach to the management of public sector pay. I suggested that we need to consider how a policy of more closely relating pay to performance can meet the aspirations of public servants, while maintaining the unavoidable limits on public spending. The Government is prepared to explore the options by which this might most effectively be achieved. I envisage that discussion will commence on these issues with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions following the budget.