John Bruton
Ceist:7 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work programme of NESC; and if he will make a statement on its current institutional and administrative arrangements. [17453/99]
Vol. 508 No. 4
7 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work programme of NESC; and if he will make a statement on its current institutional and administrative arrangements. [17453/99]
8 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach, further to Parliamentary Question No. 1 of 17 December 1997, the progress being made by his Department in implementing Partnership 2000 and the further development of the social partnership process. [17454/99]
9 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Central Review Committee is scheduled to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17458/99]
10 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the Government's views on the negotiation of a new national agreement to replace Partnership 2000; the discussions, if any, which have taken place with the social partners in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17459/99]
11 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with IBEC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17410/99]
12 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with ICTU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17411/99]
13 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the outcome of his meetings with the social partners on 13 September; when he expects the negotiations for a new national agreement will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17738/99]
14 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the outcome of the Partnership 2000 plenary meeting on 27 July last. [17739/99]
15 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of his recent correspondence or meetings with the Competitiveness Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17756/99]
16 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach when the NESC strategy report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17769/99]
17 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will elaborate on the points he made in his speech on 28 September 1999 at the launch of the National Centre for Partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18644/99]
18 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his address on 28 September 1999 to the annual conference of the National Centre for Partnership. [18905/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 18, inclusive, together.
Social partnership has played a hugely significant role on the transformation of Ireland over the past decade – in both economic and social inclusion terms. The Government is deeply committed to the process, as exemplified by the latest progress report on Partnership 2000 which has been placed in the Oireachtas Library.
The development of the partnership model has been a priority and this is, perhaps, most clearly illustrated by the wide-ranging and systematic monitoring mechanisms in place and the establishment of the National Centre for Partnership. The further development of the model in the years ahead remains a priority, particularly in terms of deepening partnership at the enterprise level but, for that to happen, there must be confidence on the part of all participants that the terms agreed will in fact apply.
Against that general background, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and I met with representatives of IBEC and ICTU separately on 13 September. We conveyed the Government's concern at the apparent willingness of some groups to substitute strikes and industrial conflict for the partnership approach and a corresponding concern that the terms of Partnership 2000 should be honoured fully by all sides. We emphasised that the Government has honoured the terms of the present and previous partnership agreements – especially in the area of public service pay.
It is clear that IBEC and ICTU share the Government's view that social partnership has delivered substantially in terms of employment creation, higher living standards across the board, better public services, and improved public finances.
In our meeting with ICTU specifically, it was agreed that social partnership is only possible in a climate of trust, based on the honouring of commitments. It was further agreed that, in the present context, developments in any part of the public service cannot be viewed in isolation, but will have direct implications for pay and conditions generally, through established relativities. This reinforces the importance of developing a new framework for the management of public service pay in its entirety. My recent address to the National Centre for Partnership was anchored on these points.