Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together.

Together with my colleagues, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance, I met the social partners on Wednesday, 14 June, following the conclusion of the negotiations on a new social partnership agreement. I welcome the draft agreement, which builds on the significant progress already made under Sustaining Progress and provides an important framework for meeting the economic and social challenges that lie ahead.

A great deal of time and effort has gone into the making of the agreement. This underlines both the importance of the issues under discussion and the importance attached by all sides to maintaining our system of social partnership. I commend the negotiators on all sides for the commitment and leadership they have brought to the task. I previously stated that no deal was better than a bad deal but the end result shows it has been worth the effort.

The Government participated in the negotiations on the basis of its programme and my colleagues and I were happy to approve the terms of the new agreement in that context. If ratified, the Government will pursue the implementation of the agreement in line with available resources and subject to the approval of the Oireachtas in respect of necessary legislation and the voting of the necessary funds in the Estimates process.

In regard to pay, the workplace and employment rights and compliance, the proposals represent a sensible and well considered outcome, striking a fair balance between the need to secure the living standards of those at work and the pressures on the enterprise sector of the economy. A new social partnership agreement is not only about pay, important though that is. It is also about maintaining a supportive macro-economic environment, based on a shared understanding across all sectors of the community of the challenges that we face and of the consistent behaviours that will enhance productivity and competitiveness and build a stronger society. Put simply, it is about mobilising our collective resources to improve people's lives.

I particularly welcome the new approach to social policy that identifies the key issues that might affect the individual at key stages in the life cycle. It is my firm belief that the life cycle approach, as it is called, offers the type of mindset or stepped change required, if we are to deliver effective policies and programmes that support people to realise their full potential. These, however, are not goals that can be achieved during the usual three-year agreement. In this context, the Government and the social partners recognise that a ten-year framework agreement is more appropriate for the type of social dialogue that can be effective.

The final agreement is now subject to ratification in the weeks ahead, in line with the internal procedures within each social partner pillar and organisation. I hope that all concerned will recognise the benefits of the new agreement both for themselves and for the country in its entirety and support it during the ratification process. Talks in regard to the farming sector have not yet concluded and are expected to continue in the days ahead. The farming pillar has, however, participated in the negotiations on the non-pay agreement, which have concluded.

The Government has prepared and published a total of ten progress reports on the implementation of the Sustaining Progress agreement. The considerable progress that has been made in implementing the wide-ranging set of commitments contained in Sustaining Progress is reflected in these progress reports, the special mid-term review reports and the final report on the special initiatives, all of which were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The National Economic and Social Forum, NESF, has published nine reports since June 2002. These are: Equity of Access to Hospital Care; Labour Market Issues for Older Workers; Equality Policies for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People: Implementation Issues; The Policy Implications of Social Capital; Equality Policies for Older People: Implementation Issues; Fourth Periodic Report on the Work of the NESF; Early Childhood Care and Education; Care for Older People; and Creating a More Inclusive Labour Market. This material is readily available in the Oireachtas Library because each NESF report is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. Details are also available on the NESF website, www.nesf.ie.

My function in respect of the NESF reports is to present them to Government, not to monitor the implementation of their recommendations. Consequently, there are no procedures in my Department for responding to such reports. I have made this clear on a number of occasions. Any questions in regard to the implementation of recommendations in specific NESF reports should be put to the relevant Minister.

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