Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together.

Social partnership has been of enormous benefit to Ireland both socially and economically. Since the programme for national recovery in 1987, the stability it provides has allowed for record levels of growth and enhanced social inclusion. In recent times of more moderate growth, the processes of social partnership have helped maintain competitiveness and a pro-jobs environment while enhancing a co-ordinated and comprehensive approach to inclusiveness issues. I assure the House that I am committed to the implementation of Sustaining Progress which is operative to the end of 2005 and to the development of further national agreements in future.

I attended a meeting of the social partners in Government Buildings on 13 December 2004, to mark the publication of two important reports, the second progress report on the implementation of the affordable housing initiative, by Mr. Des Geraghty, former president of SIPTU and the social trends report, Women and Men in Ireland, 2004 by the Central Statistics Office. Copies of both reports have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The next quarterly plenary meeting of the social partners is set to take place on 18 February. While the agenda remains to be finalised, a presentation by my Department on the EU Commission's response to the second Wim Kok report and to national inputs will be a key feature. Formal meetings such as these complement the meetings which I hold with representatives of the social partners on a regular basis. I will continue to meet with the social partners regularly and as required over the remainder of the lifetime of Sustaining Progress.

As Deputies will be aware, the membership of the community and voluntary pillar of social partnership was expanded following ratification of Sustaining Progress. The pillar now has 15 member organisations which have endorsed Sustaining Progress, six on an individual basis and nine organisations in the strands of older people, disability, housing, children, rural, local, voluntary and care. The membership of the pillar changed both as a result of the review of participation in social partnership, which included an examination of ways in which to maximise the potential contribution of the community and voluntary pillar, and the decision of two organisations not to accept Sustaining Progress.

In regard to the community and voluntary organisations which have not ratified Sustaining Progress, Departments were advised that they should continue to be consulted in areas in which their expertise or that of their constituent members would be relevant to the policy-making and implementation process. The organisations in question have, on occasion, been invited to participate on particular committees or working groups in light of their particular expertise. This is determined by the nature of the task or issue in question and is primarily a matter for each Department.

Any further applications for membership of the community and voluntary pillar will be considered in consultation with that pillar and in the context of future negotiations on a successor agreement.

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