Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together.

The last plenary meeting of the social partners, which I attended together with the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Finance, took place in Dublin Castle on 14 July and included an assessment of the overall progress that has been made in the implementation of Sustaining Progress, including in particular the special initiatives. I made very clear the Government's continued strong commitment to pursuing Ireland's economic and social prosperity through the process of social dialogue and partnership. I also expressed appreciation for the key contribution made by the social partners to the development of our economy and society. One of the innovations under Sustaining Progress was the agreement on a number of special initiatives. There is a general consensus among the social partners that they have proven to be a very effective way of focusing resources on particular areas of concern. Undoubtedly, there are lessons to be learned from the experience of implementing these initiatives, including lessons about what kind of areas on which to focus, how many special initiatives on which to focus and what mechanisms we might best use to approach them. I expect these issues will be taken up in the forthcoming negotiations.

The considerable progress that has been made in implementing the wide-ranging set of commitments contained in Sustaining Progress is borne out by the ninth progress report and the final report on the special initiatives, which were produced for the plenary meeting. Copies of these reports together with the report of the steering group to the ninth plenary meeting and speeches have been laid in the Oireachtas Library. We have had six national partnership agreements since 1987 and are due to formally launch the negotiations on a new agreement at the next plenary meeting which will take place in November. I have invited the social partner organisations to participate in these negotiations in the context that the Government will be entering talks on the basis of our programme for Government and within the framework of the forthcoming NESC three-year strategic economic and social overview.

The national implementation body, which includes employer and 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. The national implementation body does not seek in any way to duplicate or substitute 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.

There is certainly plenty for the Government and the social partners to reflect on as we look beyond Sustaining Progress. The main risks to growth and inflation stem from potential second round-effects in wage and price setting behaviour resulting from ongoing oil price increases. In this context, the response of incomes policies will be critical to the short to medium outlook of the economy.

History shows the folly of trying to compensate ourselves for the effects of increases in oil prices. Social partnership has been of enormous benefit 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. This continues to be the overriding challenge looking ahead.

As I have already mentioned, the National Economic and Social Council is currently undertaking its three yearly strategic overview of economic and social policy, paving the way to negotiations on a successor to Sustaining Progress. The NESC has completed its study entitled The Developmental Welfare State, which was published on 19 May 2005. The council completed its report, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy in December 2004. In the coming months, it will complete a report on the Lisbon Strategy, focusing on the open method of coordination. Other studies in the council's work programme include migration policy, child poverty and child income supports, Ireland's first periodic social report, the taxation system in the medium term, competition and regulation in networked sectors, as well as a significant NESC contribution to a knowledge society foresight exercise. The reconstituted NESF held its inaugural meeting on 26 May 2004 in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, at which the work programme for the coming term up to 2006 was discussed, as well as the appropriate structures and working arrangements in the context of this work programme. Early childhood care and education, care for older people and creating a more inclusive labour market were subsequently selected as priority topics.

The report on early childhood care and education has been completed. Following consideration by Government, it was published on 25 September 2005. A plenary session of the NESF was held on 28 September 2005 to discuss the draft report of the project team on care for older people. The report is now being finalised in light of the comments made at the plenary and will be submitted to Government shortly. A plenary session to discuss the final draft report of the project team on creating a more inclusive labour market will be held on 19 October 2005 in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Cultural citizenship and delivery of public services have been identified for inclusion in the second phase of the work programme. Preliminary work has been undertaken on both these topics and projects in these areas will commence shortly. The NESF held the second national anti-poverty strategy social inclusion forum in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham on 26 January 2005. The social inclusion forum gives those who are not directly involved in the social partnership process an opportunity to input their views and experiences in implementing the national anti-poverty strategy. A report of the proceedings was published in April.

Finally, the NESF hosted, in conjunction with UCD, a conference of evidence-based policy making on 10 February 2005. The conference examined the supply and gathering of evidence and applying this in the policy making process and the design of practical policy solutions. The ongoing monitoring and evaluation of policy outcomes was an important focus of the conference. A conference report is being prepared for publication.

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