Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:141 Mr. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the guidelines he intends to issue in respect of the preparation of the new partnership agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21624/02]
Written Answers. - Social Partnership Agreement.
As Deputy Durkan will be aware, I attended the PPF plenary meeting in Dublin Castle on Thursday 31 October, together with the Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance to formally launch the talks on a successor agreement to the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
All the social partners were represented at the meeting and its primary purpose was to begin the process of considering the nature and scope of a new agreement. The meeting also provided an opportunity for us all, Government and social partners, to outline the priority concerns which we will each bring to the process.
For my part, I reiterated my remarks at the PPF plenary in July, when I said that I would invite organisations to participate in negotiations on a new agreement in the context that the Government will enter talks on the basis of its programme for Government. I also made it clear that those organisations invited to participate in the talks do so on the basis that social partnership brings rights and responsibilities, that these are exercised in a spirit of mutual respect and respect for the primacy of the democratic process and that what is agreed must reflect the objective needs of the whole community and the necessary accountability for public policy and public funds.
I also referred to the reality that general economic conditions are tighter now than they have been at any point in the last five years. The international environment has become dramatically more challenging over recent months and the outlook is, to say the least, uncertain. The competitiveness agenda has become much more demanding, as recent job losses have underlined. The inevitable impact on the public finances has become sharply evident over the recent weeks and months. I emphasised, therefore, that it is important that realism should guide us all.
As I also said at the PPF plenary meeting, we have it in our own hands, to a large degree, to determine how the economy will perform over the coming years. However, in order to secure an agreed outcome, it will be imperative that expectations should keep in line with current economic realities. This is the key challenge now being presented to the process of social partnership.
The National Economic and Social Council is currently in the final stages of completing its three-yearly overview of economic and social developments and policy. I expect that the key recommendations will be agreed within a matter of days, followed shortly afterwards by finalisation and publication of the detailed strategy report.
The NESC Strategy Report, along with the Government's programme and my statement on the basis on which the social partners are being invited into talks, will act as the guiding framework for the negotiations on a social partnership agreement to succeed the PPF. This process has commenced with a series of bilateral meetings with each of the social partners.