Joe Sherlock
Ceist:20 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress which has been made on the establishment of the social insurance fund board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19510/02]
Written Answers. - Social Insurance.
Under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the Government undertook to examine the issues associated with the establishment of a Social Insurance Fund Board with representation from the social partners.
Officials from the Department of Finance and from my Department have met on a number of occasions with representatives of trade unions and of employers. The aim of the discussions, which were recently concluded, was to examine how any such board might be constituted and the role that it could usefully play. The outcome of those discussions is under consideration and I expect that my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and I will be in position to respond formally to the social partners in the near future.