Eamon Ryan
Ceist:108 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures discussed and agreed at the recent EU Presidency meeting in Galway. [4035/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 11 February 2004
Ceisteanna (55, 56)
Joan Burton
Ceist:117 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will report on the outcome of the informal meeting of European employment and social policy Ministers in Galway on 15 January 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3858/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 117 together.
The theme of the informal meeting of employment and social policy ministers in Galway on 16 January was "Making Work Pay — Exploring the Interaction between Social Protection and Work." This is a key issue for member states in the context of achieving the Lisbon employment goals and a core objective in the EU level process to support the modernisation of social protection systems.
In discussing the interaction between benefit systems and employment objectives the meeting considered three specific aspects, namely: prevention and activation measures; reconciling work and family life and prolonging working life.
It was agreed that in developing policies aimed at making work pay we must consider the broader inactive population, not just those already in the labour market. Specific policies aimed at assisting categories such as lone parents and people with disabilities should be developed. In addition, specific action is required across a range of areas such as the provision of child care and elder care and the promotion of part-time work. There was agreement that each member state should take appropriate measures to address this issue in accordance with the objectives set out in the employment guidelines.
Ministers and the Commissioner also agreed to strengthen actions to increase the attractiveness of employment for older workers and to raise the average age at which workers leave the labour market. In this regard, four key policy areas emerged namely, changing attitudes in the workplace, increasing access to training for older workers, improving quality in work and ensuring that pensions and social security provisions provide the right incentives.
It was recognised that policies to reconcile work and family life are vital elements in the overall package of measures to increase participation in the labour market. In this respect, increasing the availability, affordability and quality of child care and elder care must be a priority. Issues such as parental and caring leave must be addressed in order to increase the participation of women in the labour force.
During a discussion on the contribution of investment in education and training to economic development, particular interest was expressed in the Irish experience. Ministers and the Commissioner agreed that continued and greater investment in education and training would be essential to improve competitiveness, raise employment rates, increase productivity and lower unemployment levels.
In company with our Dutch and Luxembourg ministerial colleagues, the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, and I met EU level representatives, social partners and non-government organisations at our Troika meeting on 15 January. All stakeholders accepted the necessity for innovation and flexibility of response in the workplace if the Lisbon goals of sustainable growth and quality employment are to be met. Social dialogue, at both EU and national level, was considered critical in order to inform the development of strategy as we move forward.
In the discussion on making work pay, the need to strike a proper balance between employment and social protection policies was emphasised. Overall, there was full agreement that there is a need for specific and targeted recommendations to stimulate job creation within the EU and that the incentives and supports that social protection systems offer to people moving from benefits to work need to be strengthened. However, Ministers recognised that we can only succeed in this area if we strike a proper balance between employment and social protection policies and that our aim must be to improve incentives to work while providing a high level of social protection for all.