Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.

The National Implementation Body, which includes employer and trade union representatives, operates under the chairmanship of my Department. Its purpose is to oversee delivery of the industrial peace and stability provisions of the Sustaining Progress agreement.

The body has met on a number of occasions recently to assist in the resolution of industrial relations disputes in both the public and private sectors. Meetings of the body also provide opportunities for informal discussion of some of the broader issues relating to the social partnership process and the industrial relations climate generally.

I should make clear that the National Implementation Body does not seek in any way to duplicate or substitute for already well-established industrial relations machinery. The role it serves is complementary in helping to identify and overcome obstacles to effective participation in these wider processes. The body will continue to meet, as necessary, to this end.

I addressed the Biennial Conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Thursday last. In the course of my speech, I addressed the issue of housing. One of the central issues in housing is affordability, and we have for some time been working to provide increased numbers of affordable houses under a variety of schemes, including the affordable housing initiative which we agreed with the social partners in Sustaining Progress.

While considerable progress has been made, our priority now must be accelerating delivery of affordable housing units. In this context, I announced during my speech in Belfast that we are creating a new agency, to be known as the affordable homes partnership.

The role of the AHP will be to drive and co-ordinate the delivery of affordable housing in the greater Dublin area, with particular reference to the Dublin metropolitan area. The AHP will help to accelerate the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative on State land, and will work closely with relevant Departments and local authorities to ensure a "whole of Government" approach to affordable housing developments.

In the first instance, the agency will be working within the existing planning and development framework. However, if additional legislative powers prove to be necessary, they will be made available. In the meantime, consideration is to be given to approaches dealing with land options and a "use it or lose it" scheme.

The Government intends to address more medium-term issues for the provision of social and affordable housing in the early autumn. This process will be informed by the outcome of the statutory housing needs assessment currently under way and the work under way by the Housing Forum in reviewing the effectiveness of the existing social and affordable housing schemes in the context of Sustaining Progress.

A copy of my address to the conference has been laid in the Oireachtas Library.

See this speech in context