No such request from the Construction Industry Federation for a meeting has been received either by the Tánaiste or myself. I am, however, aware that CIF members will deliberate on ratification next week.
I welcome the fact that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and IBEC have recently ratified the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement, 2008-2009. This new Agreement provides us with an important framework for addressing the economic and social challenges which the country faces in the immediate period ahead.
At the same time, I appreciate the very real difficulties being faced by a sizeable number of firms in the construction sector in the current climate.
The CIF have always been strong supporters of the national pay agreements process. I believe that they recognise the value of this approach in order to:
maintain the orderly conduct of industrial relations in the sector;
underpin the management of change within the industry, particularly in the current volatile times; and
recognise the very particular difficulties being faced by individual firms.
I firmly believe that the Agreement reached represents a sensible compromise and the best terms that could be achieved in current circumstances. Most importantly, it will serve as a welcome boost for investors and workers alike — providing certainty in pay determination, safe-guarding employment and helping to preserve the industrial peace that has been a hallmark of social partnership and which was benefited our economy significantly over the last 21 years.
I am hopeful that all concerned will recognise the clear benefits of the Agreement — for themselves, their organisation and for the country as a whole — and will proceed to ratify the Agreement.