Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The NESC was the first of the bodies established back in 1973 as an advisory body to the Government on economic and social matters. Its mandate was to analyse and report on strategic issues relating to the efficient development of the economy, the achievement of social progress and the development of a strategic framework for the conduct of negotiations and agreements between Governments and social partners. The role of the NESC will not change considerably following the dissolution of the NESF and the NCPP. The particular experience and expertise of the staff of those two bodies who are now working within the NESC secretariat will add further dimensions to NESC's traditional role of policy analysis by facilitating greater exploration of the challenges of policy implementation and, where appropriate, the study of the employment relations dimension of both economic development and public sector transformation. The secretariats that have served the NESF and the NCPP will continue to work within the NESC.

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