Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

What does the Taoiseach envisage as the future for Sustaining Progress and social partnership? In 1987 when the Programme for National Recovery was introduced its aims were fairly simple, namely industrial peace and job creation traded for tax reform and wages. It has now become a much-expanded series of documents. For instance one of the key principles, referred to in an article in The Irish Times this week, precludes:

strikes or other forms of industrial action by trade unions, employees or employers in respect of any matters covered by this agreement, where the employer or trade union concerned is acting in accordance with the provisions of this agreement.

Another key principle was as follows:

It is accepted that the rapid pace of change in the business environment demands ongoing adaptation and the parties are committed to full co-operation with normal ongoing change and the need for continued adaptation and flexibility.

This year we have had a series of threatened strikes, which would lead to the disruption of power supplies, postal services and air transport. It seems those issues would have been covered under the social agreement. Minimum wages, pay increases and ESOTs have all come about as a consequence of social partnership. Everybody across the political spectrum accepts these have been very beneficial in the national interest. When will the next round start? Where does the Taoiseach see this process heading? When matters such as social housing and others are included in the social partnership agreements, does it not mean the documents pertaining to the agreements can often become so convoluted and woolly that they become meaningless? How will it evolve in the future?

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