Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2006
99 Mr. Lowry asked the Taoiseach the progress of the social partnership talks; the expected timeframe for completing the talks; if the framework of an agreement is emerging and the details thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14235/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraNegotiations on a successor agreement to Sustaining Progress are being conducted on a strand-based approach and the first strand has been focusing on the issue of employment standards. It is accepted that it is the congress position that significant progress will be made in this first strand before any substantial engagement takes place around core pay issues.
Several meetings have been held in this regard and contacts are ongoing with a view to establishing the scope and possibilities that exist for agreement on the issue. While no date has been set for the conclusion of negotiations, it is hoped that, with goodwill and flexibility on all sides, we will be able to move on soon to address pay and other workplace related issues.
A number of plenary and bilateral meetings have also taken place with each of the four pillars — trade union, business-employer, farming and community and voluntary — which have discussed, inter alia, the NESC report on the Developmental Welfare State; the Fitzpatrick Associates review of the special initiatives implemented under Sustaining Progress; the implications of the proposed longer-term framework for social partnership; the macro-economic context for the negotiations; the economic, environmental, infrastructural and social policy priorities within a new agreement; and the wider non-pay issues and priorities, where the social partners have agreed that a longer-term perspective is appropriate for full implementation.
Following on from the initial round of multilateral engagement, as outlined above, it is intended that draft text in relation to the economic, environmental, infrastructural and social policy priorities will be circulated for comment in the next round of multilateral engagement in the negotiations, which have resumed this week, commencing 24 April, after the Easter recess.
Officials of the relevant Departments are participating in the talks. The positions to be finally agreed in the context of these talks will reflect the Government's policy priorities, since the response to the social partners in the talks is determined by my colleagues and me.
