Mr. Adrian Solomon:

I will speak in Romanian. I thank members for being available to meet us. About one year ago my colleagues and I in the Romanian Parliament with responsibility for the labour function commenced a tour of the northern countries of Europe. As has been recognised at European level, northern countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Ireland have very good and solid systems of social protection and social insurance.

For the last 30 years, since the political system changed, we have been trying to find a way - we still have some work to do on the public pensions system - to establish a social insurance system along the lines of that in a European-style welfare state. We have learned a great deal and are still in the process of getting further information. We got lots of answers from the members' colleagues in the Government and learned that Ireland's pensions system was established in 1961 and still in place. We would like to know how it is possible that it lasted and is still working today. My immediate feeling is that maybe it is not one of the best contributory systems but is rather redistributive. It is a system which is accepted by Irish citizens and the Government and one which we can see is accepted by the majority and brings peace within the social Department. Since 1989 we have had three pension laws or reforms and are now in the process of establishing a new one. The general sense is that no matter how much one tries to respect and abide by each person's contributions during their working life, there are still some people who are not content or are unhappy with what they receive, especially in the social public system.

We would also like know what the relationship is between industrial management and the trade unions, between employees and employers. Does the Government interfere? Does it engage in mediation? Is it biparty or triparty?

My colleagues have their own areas of interest and questions. My colleague Ms Mara-Daniela Calista who will follow me has been working in the government area and is interested in the area of disability. I am also joined by my colleagues Ms Violeta Rãdu and Mr. Silviu Vexler who is the representative for the Jewish minority federation in Romania. With the committee's permission, I will ask each of them to contribute as they wish. We hope we will find the meeting beneficial.