Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The community and voluntary pillar is larger now than it was but some groups are not involved. Some years ago, for example, the ICMSA did not approve the programme and left the process. On another occasion, the IFA pulled out for a period. In social partnership the people on the group are obviously the people who sign up for the agreement. If one does not sign up, one is automatically not part of it. One cannot have it both ways.

There is no linkage in funding. People make their funding applications to the Departments and there is no relationship to social partnership. As I stated, many of the groups which opted not to participate in social partnership continue to participate with Government, Departments and agencies in different working groups.

As regards the Deputy's question on the next programme, a review is held at the end of each programme with the individual pillar about new members and changing members. This will take place in the second half of this year. People who were not in the process previously may come back in again and this has happened in many areas. It is a matter for them and how they judge the report.

From a Government point of view, I like the process to be as inclusive as possible because it is far better from an administrative point of view to have one process than individual processes. That is a matter for the individual groups.

From dealing with the community and voluntary pillar, it is my view that it is far more representative and stronger this time than it has ever been because the groups have a broad range of people. I have not seen it as strong over the years as in Sustaining Progress.

See this speech in context