Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

That is not true. The contention we have collapsed talks is totally untrue. I value the social partnership process and I believe it is an essential aspect of governance in a modern democratic society, especially in a small open economy like ours where consistency of approach is helpful for economic and social well-being. It is true we have as yet failed to arrive at a basis for a formal agreement with the social partners. However, we remain committed to the approach and objectives agreed with them in Towards 2016, the ten-year framework agreement that remains in place to which we are all working. We are operating very much within the framework we agreed with the social partners at the end of January and are reflecting in our policies and actions the approach set out in the NESC report on the current crisis.

There is, therefore, a very solid measure of agreement with the social partners but turning that into a formal accord, which can be ratified by the members of the various social partnership pillars, is proving difficult. Far more unites than divides us and the Government will engage with the social partners in an effort to bring finality to the recent talks process over the coming days and weeks. Whatever the outcome of the engagement, I believe dialogue against a background of shared interests and objectives will continue.

There has been a great deal of discussion with the social partners. Complex issues have been discussed and teased out but there are difficulties and problems. There is certain room for manoeuvre for Government but the process has been beneficial and productive. We have not reached a formal accord. We agreed that by the beginning of May both sides would step back and reflect on what way we can move the issues forward. I said I intended formally returning to the talks and giving an outline of what I believe the Government's position would be based on all the discussions. At the end of the day, responsibility for policy remains with Government but the benefit of social partnership and social dialogue is to try to see in what way we can incorporate the perspectives and insights of the social partners in devising policies.

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