Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Government has honoured its promises with regard to land under the social housing agreement. It has to work its way through the system. We must await the planning process before continuing. Concerning child care, long-term care, older people, disabilities, and employment for vulnerable people, the Government has honoured an enormous number of commitments. We have also provided resources for them while maintaining a positive financial position that allows employment levels and living standards to increase, and that brings workplace sustainability to a large number of workers. The NESC has set out a long-term strategy. On 2 February I stated that we sought a ten-year agreement with pay elements within that sector. It would be important that we would get that. I hope we can achieve that in the current negotiations. In the NESC strategy, there is a very good work programme, for a ten-year rather than three-year period, and the Government is acting to enhance competitiveness, increase skill levels in the labour force, provide sustainable employment opportunities, improve workplace conditions and help build an inclusive society. The Government has set out its stall and programme on all those issues. It is prepared to work towards that with a greater degree of confidence in delivery. There is agreement on those issues with the social partners, but regarding pay and some other issues, there are greater obstacles.

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